Trick or Treat or Be shot........

[Hagar]

I appreciate that in America you have 'the right to bear arms', but do you not have some sort of basic IQ test that has to be passed before being allowed guns?

TSC.

I think everyone here should know my feelings on firearms by now but this man is an ex-convict. The firearm was an AK-47 assault rifle, not your average handgun. I don't think people with a criminal record are legally allowed to own firearms even in America. The man is obviously a nutter.

[BFMF]

Scumbags like him make the rest of us responsible gun owners look bad.

I hope the judge makes an example out of him, and locks him away for a VERY long time....

Better yet, send him to the firing squad

[Dr.bob7]

I appreciate that in America you have 'the right to bear arms', but do you not have some sort of basic IQ test that has to be passed before being allowed guns?

TSC.

I think everyone here should know my feelings on firearms by now but this man is an ex-convict. The firearm was an AK-47 assault rifle, not your average handgun. I don't think people with a criminal record are legally allowed to own firearms even in America. The man is obviously a nutter.

depending on the state the AK may be illegal here in Colorado all automatic weapons are banned (with the exception of certified gun ranges who ever once in a while let someone rent one for the day)

[Fozzer]

depending on the state the AK may be illegal here in Colorado all automatic weapons are banned (with the exception of certified gun ranges who every once in a while let someone rent one for the day)

Who do they shoot on "Open Day"?... ....!

F... ...!

[BFMF]

I appreciate that in America you have 'the right to bear arms', but do you not have some sort of basic IQ test that has to be passed before being allowed guns?

TSC.

I think everyone here should know my feelings on firearms by now but this man is an ex-convict. The firearm was an AK-47 assault rifle, not your average handgun. I don't think people with a criminal record are legally allowed to own firearms even in America. The man is obviously a nutter.

depending on the state the AK may be illegal here in Colorado all automatic weapons are banned (with the exception of certified gun ranges who ever once in a while let someone rent one for the day)

The AK-47 doesn't have to be an automatic weapon. I know plenty of people who own AK's, and none of them are automatic

[H]

I appreciate that in America you have 'the right to bear arms', but do you not have some sort of basic IQ test that has to be passed before being allowed guns?

I'm just using yours as a basis quote, TSC. When I was 14 I issued a "Special Weapons Permit" for our camping club when I heard that some members were shooting at each other with BB guns -- and popping the BBs back out of their foreheads; they'd shoot into the bushes without even knowing what, or what part of what, was in the line of fire.
People tend to think of the U.S. as one big country with all states under all-encompassing mutual laws. Not so -- each state has an amount of sovereignty within their borders. In fact, when the federal 55mph speed limit was issued by the federal government some states were slow to comply. Nebraska only did so after the federal government, to force compliance, refused to return any assistance (money for construction, road repairs, etc., from accrued taxes). Not all laws, therefore, are uniform.
Since the federal constitution has a clause on "the right to bear arms" and it is agreed that it does not refer to the appendages dangling from the shoulders, bare or elsewise, totally banning weaponry is not likely. "All men being created equal," there is also no definitive recourse for those who remain or become stupid; many of these will either bare or bear arms (sometimes both -- and it is difficult, when not impossible, to bear arms with no arms).
To my knowledge, it is illigal in most states for 'convicted' felons to carry firearms. Specifics, howbeit, can vary in each state. In New Hampshire it was legal carry a gun as long as it was not concealed (biological variants are not subject to that law, Foz, et al). Some of my schoolmates actually made their own guns in shop class (without the instructors knowledge); one of my classmates even made his own mortar. In that respect, guns can be obtained even if manufacturing them were illigal (shades of "Prohibition').

8-)

[Al_Fallujah]

The story does not mention him being charged with the possesion of the firearm. As a convicted felon, he is not allowed to have it.

I also noticed that he had a 3year sentence that he only served 5 months on.  Some program for "first timers".

He had at least three drug dealing charges, not sure how he qualified for that. Some lawyer finagled that I am sure.

They make it too easy on cons...  lock em up and keep them for the full sentence, or something. 5 months???

[Vuikag]

depending on the state the AK may be illegal here in Colorado all automatic weapons are banned (with the exception of certified gun ranges who every once in a while let someone rent one for the day)

Who do they shoot on "Open Day"?... ....!

F... ...!

themselves  :P

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/27/boy.sh ... index.html


The Ak-47 is fairly common where I live, 1/4 own it for bragging rights, 1/4 own it because their crazy and they want to kill people, 1/4 own it for hunting, and 1/4  own it for schnicks and giggles

[Mushroom_Farmer]

He had at least three drug dealing charges, not sure how he qualified for that. Some lawyer finagled that I am sure.

This is why the 3 strikes law came about. It's too bad so few local governments adopt it.
But if those those charges were reduced to lesser ones through some plea deal, which sounds likely in the case here, the 3 strikes law wouldn't apply.

[BFMF]

[quote]The Ak-47 is fairly common where I live, 1/4 own it for bragging rights, 1/4 own it because their crazy and they want to kill people, 1/4 own it for hunting, and 1/4

[Omag 2.0]

The sensible European guy in me has a hard time when it comes to all these guns in private hands...

OK, considering America's past, I can understand how gun ownership grew historically... But, where I can understand someone owning a handgun or shotgun/huntingrifle for hunting or personal protection, I simply can't understand why someone would need to own a full automatic attack-rifle like an AK-47... sounds like serious overkill to me... especially in untrained hands...

Though I mustn't be a hypocrit... Belgium issued a new gunlaw recently and set up a period during whitch people could give up non-registered guns without any penalty... I was surprised by the amount of guns collected... Even my mother in law turned in a .22 rifle, once belonging to my father in law as a hunting-gun...

It's a strange world out there...  ;D

[Mushroom_Farmer]

...I simply can't understand why someone would need to own a full automatic attack-rifle like an AK-47...

It isn't as simple as that. The legal ownership a full automatic weapons is heavily regulated per the National Firearms Act of 1934.

[Al_Fallujah]

True automatic weapons are somewhat controlled. You have to get a permit from the ATF. Costs a big fee if I recall, but I would have to check.

The "assault weapons" ban was interesting. Many argued that the definition of an assualt weapon was a bit extreme. I will not go into particulars because some of the definitions are politically hot. If you are interested it, look it up.

As for the "tradition" of American gun ownership. It started after we kicked the Brits out.

[BFMF]

Yep, True automatics weapons have been controlled for quite some time.

The nazis weren't the only ones to disarm it's population. The communists did the same thing after taking over Russia.

It's all about controll, not preventing crime...

[Mushroom_Farmer]

 As a contrast there's the mostly civilian Swiss Militia. It's estimated every Swiss home contains at least three weapons, including automatic military assualt rifles.