People who live near dangerous animals, for example, need to be able to shoot to defend themselves. When you are terrified (for example because that Grizzly is running towards you), you lose fine motor skills. You may not be able to hit with the first shot, which is all you get with a single-shot hunting rifle.
Of course, if you live in a safe urban/suburban environment where you can rely on animal control to take care of dangerous animals and the police to take care of dangerous criminals, you don’t need such a rifle. But not everybody has “safe environment with professionals working hard to keep it that way” privileges.
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Actually in some of the urban/suburban areas, a semi-automatic rifle is just as necessary. Dog packs are not uncommon and have been known to attack people. Being able to engage multiple targets in rapid succession is a hallmark of the semi-automatic action.
the police to take care of dangerous criminals, you don’t need such a rifle.
Average police response time nation-wide for a high priority emergency call is still 6 minutes. Want to take your chances unarmed for 360 seconds (try counting out that — amazing how long it is ), go right ahead. i would prefer not to.
nor does it address the recreational uses for semi-automatic rifles. There are several shooting sports that involve semi-automatic rifles. Recreational shooting is another, apart from the sporting aspect. I have two sons, one a former Marine, one currently on active duty; I enjoy being able to spend time shooting a rifle we all have experience with. I learned to use one in the 80s when I was in the Air Force.
Bob S.
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I was trying to appropriate the “check your privilege” concept. Very often, the people pushing for gun control live in environments where the police show up in less than six minutes, and dog packs are culled by the authorities. If you live in an upper-middle class suburb, you might not need a rifle. But to say that therefore nobody does is stupid.
Good point about recreational shooting as an alternative use. I didn’t think of that.
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Tell me: What do you suppose your chances are of being attacked by a pissed-off grizzly bear or a pack of rabid dogs? And tell me: How does your enjoyment of shooting targets with your semi-automatic outweigh others’ rights to not be shot by them?
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My odds are very small. I live in a nice suburb with a strong police force and animal control. I don’t have a CHL either. That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize that other people might not be so lucky.
Your argument about people’s rights not to be shot assumes that criminals will either obey gun control laws (unlikely) or be unable to get guns from illicit sources. Considering that in WWII guns could be constructed in a bicycle shop (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sten#Danish_Sten), and since then metalworking equipment has only gotten cheaper.
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I live in Alaska off the road system in a village of 250 people. People here run into Grizzlies all the time. They also use so called ‘assault rifles’ for hunting. It takes many caribou to feed a large family and just like the dog pack you need to be able to be able to acquire multiple targets in quick succession. And before you go off on how they don’t need to kill 5 caribou in a day (legal by the way) consider that a pound of hamburger at the store is $15 and often expired (still for sale). Caribou migrate through only at certain times so the meat must last the year. There is little work to earn money for food in this region. And some of the extended families that they share the kill with may include 40-50 people five caribou doesn’t last long with that.
While the color is really irrelevant, high capacity magazines allow for less reloading in subzero temps where changing clips can be difficult, pistol grips increase standing and kneeling accuracy in an area where there are few trees to brace on and only snow drifts to go prone (you sink, it doesn’t work well). These guns are also often shorter which makes them lighter to carry, easier to stow and less cumbersome. The last one is great if you are simply taking it for protection.
Although there are many guns here they are often shared as people have little money. These guns tend to be cheaper (at least here) and ammo and attachments/parts are readily available.
So before you say no one hunts with an assault rifle, consider that this law applies to all Americans. Some are very far from you in conditions very different to you. As qbzzt said, “If you live in an upper-middle class suburb, you might not need a rifle. But to say that therefore nobody does is stupid.” I would add, just because you can’t think of a reason/don’t think it is likely doesn’t mean one does not exist.
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