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May 16, 2004

I thought we were past this...

In an editorial today denouncing the expiration of the semi-auto gun ban, the LA Times leads with

Just under four months from today, Americans will be able to walk out of a gun store with an AK-47 rifle, an Uzi or other weapon of mass murder under their arm.
Now, I suppose they mean semi-automatic versions of these weapons, not their normal machine-gun versions. But reading this, especially the term "weapon of mass murder", one would think that machine guns are once again to be available for sale -- ending the 70-year-old Roosevelt-era ban.

Probably just an oversight by the Time's editors -- or just active ignorance -- and not an intentional half-truth intended to mislead.

Posted by Kevin Murphy at May 16, 2004 09:33 AM | TrackBack
Comments

And of course, the gun itself is the problem, not the person who mis-uses it.

Posted by: Jeff at May 16, 2004 07:07 PM

Actually, can you think of a mass murderer who used a gun? Most have used their hands or rope since they seem to be into stragulation.

Sounds to me we need to outlaw rope, if anything.

Posted by: Director Mitch at May 17, 2004 08:48 PM

I can think of mass murderers who used guns -- usually snipers in the clock tower -- but darn few SERIAL murderers...

And I would darn sure rather that sniper in the clock tower had an Uzi rather than a hunting rifle with a scope.

Posted by: Kevin Murphy at May 17, 2004 10:37 PM