Commiefornia

All right first off if you don't know I'm a self proclaimed gun nut. I own 4 guns and will own far more in the future. I live in California which is the worst state in the nation in terms of gun laws. California is so backwards it makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Some one can buy a M1A, which is a semi-automatic version of the M14 Battle Rifle, but can't buy any version of the HK41 or G3, which fires the same round and has the same firing rate as the M1A.
Some of the laws that prohibit "assault" rifles are really very ignorant. Besides a long list of rifles that are banned outright like AK clones and other "assault" rifles, the law prohibits any semi-automatic rifle that has a detachable magazine and one of the following and I quote:
(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.
That's where the HK goes into illegal territory… it has a conspicuous pistol grip. But why is a pistol grip illegal? Well the people who wrote this law are either retarded or were listening to people who are retarded. They believe that a pistol grip makes it easier to fire or spray from the hip and also fire one handed. WTF? First off only an idiot would believe it makes it easier to fire from the hip. I've shot from the hip a few times, it makes no difference, its stupid with either a pistol or straight stock. Secondly most of these weapons weight around 8+ lbs. and are not easy to shoot one handed. Plus you can not hit anything one handed except for with something designed to shoot one handed like… a pistol. What's a thumbhole stock? Basically a bulky pistol grip used in many hunting rifles. A folding stock I can actually see as being illegal but a telescoping stock? I have one on my shotgun. In the military and police they are used to allow the stock to be adjusted if the person had equipment or body armor on. But some people have longer or shorter arms and want to get a stock that can be adjusted for not just you but anyone who may decide to shoot the weapon. Plus they look cool… maybe that's the problem. A grenade or flare launcher? When was the last time someone used a grenade launcher to do harm in America? I don't think it has ever happened. I get it that maybe terrorists or some really smart gang members could use a grenade launched from a rifle to kill someone but if they really wanted to do that they could easily go to Nevada or Mexico and pick up a rifle with a grenade launcher. Flash suppressors are used to hide the muzzle flash but most legal muzzle brakes redirect and hide the flash but are legal. Again if someone really wanted a flash suppressor they could get one, I can pretty easily. A forward pistol grip is a tool that allows the weapon to be shot more accurately and that is it. I guess that since the military uses them it makes the rifle look more sinister but they are used as an ergonomic grip that allows the user to hold on to a rifle more easily.
The one thing people always say is why does someone need an AK-47 to hunt? Well why does someone need a Porsche to go to work? It's basically the same idea… a specialized tool used for a mundane activity. Well first off most people who would use an AK-47 for hunting would have it in semi-automatic with a thumbhole stock and scope, making it a semi-automatic hunting rifle not unlike a Browning BAR or Remington 7400 which are both completely legal but both have detachable magazines. Most people who buy a semi-automatic military style rifle are not going to go hunting with it… they use it for target shooting with friends or collecting. Why does Jerry Seinfeld get to collect race cars but I can not collect military rifles? More people are killed every year by cars than military rifles. I have the same desire to collect as he does but am limited by laws… isn't that not constitutional?
I'm not saying everyone should be able to own a military semi-automatic. I'm actually a fan of more gun laws but not anti-gun laws. I'd be willing to go to classes or longer background checks or even strick licenses. I think if someone is caught using any gun for bad or even using one dangerously they should be punished but don't punish everyone for their stupidity. Let's say a guy gets drunk and drives his Ferrari into a bus stop and kills a few people, the government is not going to ban drinking or Ferraris. The same should be true for any gun whether semi-automatic or not.