I thoroughly disagree with everything you said

A lot of what you said was misguided, not based on facts, or completely incorrect.

First, "assault weapon" does NOT "generally refer to semi-automatic firearms designed for rapid fire and combat use.". I will tell you why, then I will tell you what it really means. Any firearm that is semi-automatic, is inherently not built for rapid fire. Hence the reason it is semi-automatic. One round per one trigger pull. That is not a characteristic of any firearm built for "rapid fire". Next, semi-automatics are not built for nor are they used in combat. That said, your definition was almost correct except you replaced "semi-automatic" with "selective fire". Meaning, you can cycle between FULL-AUTOMATIC (I.E. rapid fire, burst fire, and/or semi-auto). A strict semi-auto only is not used in combat or rapid fire, just to be clear.

Next, your statement "They are often characterized by certain features such as detachable magazines, pistol grips, and more." They are not often characterized by their features. This was a calculated and purposeful maneuver by the left to blend and add confusion to the debate. They did this because they know that the 2 weapon systems can only be compared cosmetically and not functionality. This way low information citizens wouldn't know the difference and subconsciously assume the weapons they're are talking about are ones seen in action films. This couldn't be further from the truth. Also, the list of cosmetic features do not add to the lethality of the firearm.

Next, "The distinction between a semi-automatic handgun and a semi-automatic rifle is not negligible when considering capacity for harm. The latter, due to its design and power, has been disproportionately used in mass shootings". There are several handgun calibers with far more stopping power than .223 (the most popular caliber used in AR-15 mass shootings) and would cause way more devastation. There is a common misconception here and unfortunately you have… Read more fallen for it as well. The reason why the AR-15 is used in a lot of "newsworthy mass shootings" is because of the ease of use and not the potential for harm. A pistol is actually a rather tough firearm to master, an AR-15 is point and shoot. Now, I will discuss another misconception and that is lethality. The .223 round, believe it or not is a pretty ineffective round against a human target. This is actually a common round when hunting small game no larger than a fox. It is most effective at longer ranges and has a high velocity to do just that. Most mass shootings are in close quarters which completely eliminates the stopping power of the .223. at close range, getting hit with a .223 actually saves lives. Sounds crazy right? Wrong! A high velocity small round like a .223 shot at close range, has no time to slow down and give it that "punch" at the end of its travel. They literally put a tiny and clean in and out hole through the body. Unless it's in a vital area, they are relatively easy to repair and you have a pretty good chance of survival. This is the exact reason you have the same amount of people injured as killed in a lot of these. You will see 14 dead 21 injured. In the case of Georgia, 4 dead 7or9 injured. This is because the firearm and round are NOT effective in the "mass shooting" scenario. You should be FAR more worried about a highly skilled pistol shooter in a mass shooting. Look no further than the Virginia Tech shooting. The guy was a skilled pistol marksmen and killed 32 people with only 17 injured, most of which were injured by trying to escape and not by gun fire. He did this with just 2 handguns and one of those handguns was a .22. If he had 2 9mm or higher, that death toll could have been 35-40. Why was the pistol more effective? Because that's what pistols are made for and not what the AR-15 is made for. The pistol is made for mass damage and high stopping power in CLOSE QUARTERS. You aren't getting a clean in and out bullet wound. You are getting a tear factor that is taking out multiple organs with 1 bullet.

Next, "the assertion that more lives are saved by defensive firearm use than are taken in destructive acts of violence involving a firearm is a highly contentious claim, with a variety of studies showing contrasting results. It's not a universally accepted fact."

Wrong again. Numerous studies, including those by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and criminologist Gary Kleck, have found that defensive gun use (DGU) is a significant factor in personal protection. Estimates suggest that DGUs occur between 500,000 to over 2 million times per year, often without the firearm being discharged. While some studies claim lower numbers, these often rely on different methodologies or definitions of defensive use, leading to discrepancies. The preponderance of evidence, however, supports the claim that defensive gun use is a frequent and important aspect of firearm ownership. Even if there is debate over the exact number, the principle remains that firearms can and do serve as a deterrent to crime. The focus should be on enhancing responsible gun ownership and ensuring that law-abiding citizens retain the ability to defend themselves.

Next, "It's not a matter of infringing upon rights, but rather ensuring public safety - the same reason why we have traffic laws or food safety regulations."

This could possibly be the most asinine comparison I have heard. Traffic laws and food safety regulations are not analogous to firearm ownership because they regulate behaviors universally deemed dangerous when not controlled (e.g., speeding or food contamination). Firearm ownership, by contrast, is a constitutionally protected right, and restrictions must be narrowly tailored to meet a compelling public interest without unnecessarily infringing on that right. You don't have a constitutional right that protects your driving privileges or behavior.

Lastly, "equating the possession of weapons with deterrence to government tyranny is a complex argument. Many developed nations with strong democratic systems have strict gun control laws and yet don't suffer from government tyranny."

THE MOST ABSURD, ASININE, AND COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH STATEMENT MADE IN YOUR ENTIRE COMMENT.

The argument that strict gun control laws in democratic nations prevent tyranny is historically and empirically questionable. In many instances, disarmament has preceded authoritarian takeovers. For example, in Nazi Germany, the disarmament of certain populations preceded widespread persecution. The deterrent effect of an armed populace cannot be entirely discounted, especially in the context of checks and balances on government power.

Just to drive my point home. Even if it may seem unlikely in stable democracies today, the principle of deterrence is not just about current conditions but about safeguarding against future potential abuses of power. The right to bear arms serves as a final check against tyranny, ensuring that the citizen retain the means to resist should all other democratic safeguards fail. You aren't protecting yourself from tyranny tomorrow. You're protecting your descendants from tyranny for the next 100, 500, 1000 years. Take away the right to bear arms and tell me what the solution will be when tyranny takes over in 200 years? THERE ISN'T ONE. THAT'S THE EXACT POINT OF THE 2ND AMENDMENT!

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@9T6S2DX from Nebraska commented…2yrs2Y

Engaged Gun Buyback

Also, more people die from soda machines than they do "assault rifles" every year. They just publicize these occurrences for the obvious agenda furthering narrative. It's sad because I truly feel like you and most people who want gun control, have good intentions and truly value life but you have been fooled into thinking the government, more specifically, Democrats feel the way you do. The truth is, they don't care one but about the life lost in these shootings. They have 1 goal and 1 goal only and that is to disarm Americans. They just use fabricated emotions as a disguise like they care. They don't. Hence the reason they immediately use these shootings for political gain and nothing else. If they cared, they would fix the root problem and leave the guns alone.