Gun control laws. Reasonable or stupid?

[Excalibur]

Or the term "Assault Weapon"

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by Spartan198

The laws themselves aren't necessarily stupid, but most of the time the reasoning behind them is. I don't know if this is actually true or not, but I've heard .50 cal rifles were made illegal in California after a criminal shot an LAPD helicopter out of the sky with one in SWAT.

I've never heard that, but it sounds absurd. Or at least, the Wikipedia page on the ban says nothing about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_Cal...on_Act_of_2004

As for .50-caliber rifles, I'm not sure if they shouldn't at least be regulated under the NFA.

[Excalibur]

I do think that any large caliber weapon should at least be kept track up. You'd never know what kind of idiot would go around blowing shit up with a .50 BMG, but I've never heard of anyone criminal or terrorist using a .50 to harm people. Sounds like a stupid weapon to use on the general public

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

I've never heard of anyone criminal or terrorist using a .50 to harm people.

In the U.S.? No. Outside of this country? Yes. Read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_A...2%80%931997%29

The Barrett rifles that they used were originally purchased from American FFLs (which is also how the IRA got most of the "Armalites" it used).

More recently, we've learned that some of the Mexican drug cartels have also purchased Barrett rifles in the U.S., and those weapons have been recovered in raids. They haven't actually used them so far, but that could change.

[Excalibur]

Well the idea that a man can purchase a 50 and use it on people is very realistic, but even though it hasn't happened yet, doesnt mean a law should be in place to ban people from getting the rifle