HOW DO ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES? Use in mass shootingsĪssault weapons are often the weapon of choice for mass shooters because they allow killers to fire off dozens of rounds in a matter of seconds without stopping to reload. However, it is important to note that many state laws restrict or ban assault weapons and/or large capacity magazines. Under federal law, a person can also buy these firearms from a licensed gun dealer after passing a background check. Under federal law, who can currently own assault weapons and large capacity magazines?Ĭurrently, federal law allows any person over the age of 18 to purchase and immediately acquire assault weapons and large capacity magazines from a private firearms dealer, at a gun show, or online - no questions asked. military, and there are numerous civilian equivalents to the AK-47.įor more information on the history of assault weapons and efforts to ban them see our fact sheet Assault Weapons in America: A Brief History and our 2003 report Killing Machines: The Case for Banning Assault Weapons. For example, the semi-automatic AR-15 is the civilian counterpart to the fully-automatic M16 which is commonly used by the U.S. They did this by creating firearm models that were virtually identical to those used in war but that did not have a fully automatic mode. Gun manufacturers modified these weapons of war to sidestep federal law that prohibits fully automatic guns. In the 1980s, after experiencing declining gun sales, firearm manufacturers began marketing these military-style weapons directly to the American public. These lightweight, easy-to-use, deadly weapons became the most common military firearm across the globe. This balance was achieved by using smaller cartridges and large-capacity magazines while retaining design features (like pistol grips, barrel shrouds, or forward hand grips) necessary to control the gun during sustained fire. These military assault weapons were lighter and easier to control than their bigger and heavier predecessors while maintaining their high firepower. While there are various models of assault weapons marketed to the public, these guns were first designed as a weapon for Soviet soldiers (AK-47) in the 1950s. HOW DID MILITARY ASSAULT WEAPONS FLOW INTO OUR COMMUNITIES? Detachable magazines are especially lethal when used with a military-style firearm that has features that allow the shooter to have enhanced control while firing multiple rounds. Detachable magazines are readily available for most semi-automatic guns, making both military-style and non-military-style weapons more lethal. The number of cartridges a detachable magazine can hold is not limited by the size of the gun, because the magazine can extend well beyond the frame. These features, most of which were specifically designed for the military, are unnecessary for hunting, target shooting, or home defense.ĭetachable magazines give guns practically unlimited capacity. This allows the shooter to control the gun for long periods of sustained fire without getting burned as the barrel heats up. They have features like pistol grips, second hand grips, or barrel shrouds, that make the gun easier to hold with two hands. Unlike traditional rifles, the structure and mechanisms of assault weapons mirror military firearms.
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