Politics
Whether or not assault weapons should be legally restricted more than other firearms and the definition and value of the "assault weapon" classification is part of gun politics in the United States.
Prominent gun-control groups which support restrictions on ownership of these firearms include the Brady Campaign and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Prominent opponents of assault-weapons bans include the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. Gun-rights groups consider the phrase assault weapon to be a pejorative when used to describe civilian firearms.
Many opponents of the concept of "assault weapons" cite the fact that all criteria were developed, then adopted by a military force out of practicality. Detachable magazines allow for ammunition to be secured, as opposed to being loose and easily lost or damaged. Collapsible stocks allow for a rifle to be fitted to the user without spending large amounts of money to have the firearm shaped to the individual. Folding stocks shift the bulk of the stock to the side, thus shortening the rifle for transport, at the penalty of more than doubling the width (Not an issue when the goal is to be retain the firearm for transport.It should be noted that operating a rifle with the stock folded is strongly discouraged, as this deteriorates accuracy and can cause significant amounts of torque to be placed on the wrist. Pistol grips reduce the angle (and thus rotational strain) of the wrist, and to control the firearm during recoil, and is popular with physically impaired shooters who cannot hold a stock with a more traditional angle. Bayonet mounts are often simply a result of the same parts being used on both government and civilian rifles (sight towers, etc). Flash suppressors shield the shooter's vision, as well as those beside or behind the user. The accessory make the shooter's muzzle flash more visible to those downrange, and is exacerbated further with a flash eliminator. Barrels are threaded to mount aforementioned flash suppressors, sound suppressors (popular for lessening discomfort from loud sounds), compensators and muzzle brakes, both used for aiding recoil management for recoil-sensitive shooters. Barrel mounted grenade launchers are concentric rings around the muzzle. These are found only on rifles from the early to mid 19th century, when commanders thought it prudent to enable infantry to launch hand grenades from their rifles (with minimal success). Grenades found for such devices are aged, unwise to mount, and have far greater collector's value. A barrel shroud is a tube around the barrel designed to limit transfer of heat from the barrel to the supporting hand, or to protect from accidental contact. Magazines greater than 10 rounds are used by competition shooters due to the number of targets, those engaging in plinking and recreational target shooting for convenience and entertainment, and are above all, already available as surplus or contract overruns from police or military orders, and are cost effective when comparing lower capacities to standard (20-30 for rifles, 7-20 for pistols) capacity magazines. Many owners of "assault weapons" say the ban is nothing more than a cosmetic ban, or a practicality ban.
Read more about this topic: Assault Weapon
Famous quotes containing the word politics:
“From the beginning, the placement of [Clarence] Thomas on the high court was seen as a political end justifying almost any means. The full story of his confirmation raises questions not only about who lied and why, but, more important, about what happens when politics becomes total war and the truth—and those who tell it—are merely unfortunate sacrifices on the way to winning.”
—Jane Mayer, U.S. journalist, and Jill Abramson b. 1954, U.S. journalist. Strange Justice, p. 8, Houghton Mifflin (1994)
“Writing is the continuation of politics by other means.”
—Philippe Sollers (b. 1936)
“The average educated man in America has about as much knowledge of what a political idea is as he has of the principles of counterpoint. Each is a thing used in politics or music which those fellows who practise politics or music manipulate somehow. Show him one and he will deny that it is politics at all. It must be corrupt or he will not recognize it. He has only seen dried figs. He has only thought dried thoughts. A live thought or a real idea is against the rules of his mind.”
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933)