niner
09-17-2004, 12:47 PM
Sorry I could not find an online version so I had to retype it :(
Ban on assault weapons officially over
by
Katherine Amerson
The University Daily
Get those guns up. As of Monday, the ban on assault weapons is no more, and purchasing an AK-47 or an Uzi is legal.
Texas Tech Students and gun shop owners have mixed reactions to the failure of the U.S. Congress to renew the ban.
In the congressional proceedings July 13, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D, Calif, made a statement about he federal ban of semiautomatic assault weapons.
She said since the ban former U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law 10 years ago, gun traces to semiautomatic military-style assault weapons have decreased by two-thirds. Feinstein also said high-capacity clips, drums, or strips of ammunitions with more than 10 bullets were outlawed by the ban.
Matt P., a junior microbiology major from Roundrock, said more murders are committed with these types of weapons than with other weapons, and the ban had little effect on crime.
There were a lot of little loopholes," he said. "They changed names and modified them a little."
He also said most hunting rifles are just as powerful as assault rifles, they just use smaller bullets. Matt P. said he thinks the ban was originally enacted because of numerous attacks in the 80's. "I just know that AKs, Tech nines, Uzis, the automatic weapons and assault rifles are legal again," Matt P. said. "I'm not sure, but that’s what I got from it."
Jarred P., a junior advertising major from Amarillo, also said loopholes are in the ban.
"There's a loophole in the ban where if the gun has a solid stock it can be considered a sporting rifle," he said. "They should keep the ban."
Jarred P. said without , accessing the guns will be easier for people.
"It'd probably make it easier for someone with the intent of hurting someone," he said, "but if they're going to hurt someone, they're going to do it anyway."
Ban or not, he said guns are still available. "If people are going to rob a bank, they're going to get the guns they need." Jarred P. said. "Basically, it bans assault rifles and fully automatic weapons, pretty much anything we really don't need, guns that are made for killing people."
Dan F., junior public relations major from Flowermound, said he does not plant on buying one of the newly legal weapons and thinks the ban should have been extended.
"I'm not really the milzitant type," he said. "I know (the ban) was enacted 10 years ago by President Clinton."
Jared W., a worker at a local gun shop, said the ban will make everything less expensive. He said high-cap magazines that usually cost $100 will cost $40 now."
"I personally don't think it will last long," he said. "It's how bad (Bush) wants to stay in the office."
He also said the expiration of the ban will not have an effect on terrorism, because terrorists are not going to go into a store and purchase these weapons. They will get them on the black market or overseas.
Tom L., owner at another local gun shop, said they are having a party to celebrate the ban expiration, even though the ban lift probably will not last long.
He said he thought the ban would not be reinstated within the next two weeks.
"The earliest they could do it is January, it's not going to happen before the national election," he said. "That's why John Kerry's not addressing it either; the elections are too close."
He said the ban expiration would not change a whole lot.
"Handguns are used in over 98 percent of crimes committed with a firearm," Tom L. said. "People who want the stuff have always been able to get it."
He said the now-legal guns are not much different than the other guns; they just look scarier.
"You're not going to see people walking down the street with AK-47s and M16s," Tom L. said.
Maj. Gordon H. of the Tech Police Department said he along with other law enforcement officers has safety concerns regarding the expiration of the ban.
Assault weapons can go a long time without being reloaded, and Maj. Gordon H. said this puts law enforcement officers at a disadvantage.
"It is not in the best interest of the law enforcement," he said.
Ban on assault weapons officially over
by
Katherine Amerson
The University Daily
Get those guns up. As of Monday, the ban on assault weapons is no more, and purchasing an AK-47 or an Uzi is legal.
Texas Tech Students and gun shop owners have mixed reactions to the failure of the U.S. Congress to renew the ban.
In the congressional proceedings July 13, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D, Calif, made a statement about he federal ban of semiautomatic assault weapons.
She said since the ban former U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law 10 years ago, gun traces to semiautomatic military-style assault weapons have decreased by two-thirds. Feinstein also said high-capacity clips, drums, or strips of ammunitions with more than 10 bullets were outlawed by the ban.
Matt P., a junior microbiology major from Roundrock, said more murders are committed with these types of weapons than with other weapons, and the ban had little effect on crime.
There were a lot of little loopholes," he said. "They changed names and modified them a little."
He also said most hunting rifles are just as powerful as assault rifles, they just use smaller bullets. Matt P. said he thinks the ban was originally enacted because of numerous attacks in the 80's. "I just know that AKs, Tech nines, Uzis, the automatic weapons and assault rifles are legal again," Matt P. said. "I'm not sure, but that’s what I got from it."
Jarred P., a junior advertising major from Amarillo, also said loopholes are in the ban.
"There's a loophole in the ban where if the gun has a solid stock it can be considered a sporting rifle," he said. "They should keep the ban."
Jarred P. said without , accessing the guns will be easier for people.
"It'd probably make it easier for someone with the intent of hurting someone," he said, "but if they're going to hurt someone, they're going to do it anyway."
Ban or not, he said guns are still available. "If people are going to rob a bank, they're going to get the guns they need." Jarred P. said. "Basically, it bans assault rifles and fully automatic weapons, pretty much anything we really don't need, guns that are made for killing people."
Dan F., junior public relations major from Flowermound, said he does not plant on buying one of the newly legal weapons and thinks the ban should have been extended.
"I'm not really the milzitant type," he said. "I know (the ban) was enacted 10 years ago by President Clinton."
Jared W., a worker at a local gun shop, said the ban will make everything less expensive. He said high-cap magazines that usually cost $100 will cost $40 now."
"I personally don't think it will last long," he said. "It's how bad (Bush) wants to stay in the office."
He also said the expiration of the ban will not have an effect on terrorism, because terrorists are not going to go into a store and purchase these weapons. They will get them on the black market or overseas.
Tom L., owner at another local gun shop, said they are having a party to celebrate the ban expiration, even though the ban lift probably will not last long.
He said he thought the ban would not be reinstated within the next two weeks.
"The earliest they could do it is January, it's not going to happen before the national election," he said. "That's why John Kerry's not addressing it either; the elections are too close."
He said the ban expiration would not change a whole lot.
"Handguns are used in over 98 percent of crimes committed with a firearm," Tom L. said. "People who want the stuff have always been able to get it."
He said the now-legal guns are not much different than the other guns; they just look scarier.
"You're not going to see people walking down the street with AK-47s and M16s," Tom L. said.
Maj. Gordon H. of the Tech Police Department said he along with other law enforcement officers has safety concerns regarding the expiration of the ban.
Assault weapons can go a long time without being reloaded, and Maj. Gordon H. said this puts law enforcement officers at a disadvantage.
"It is not in the best interest of the law enforcement," he said.