Legal assault weapons are dangerous for citizens

They rip through the air faster than sound, slicing through thick barricades of metal and stucco walls. They carve through innocent flesh, ricocheting off bones. And when the destruction is complete families must learn how to live without their son’s smile, father’s humor or mother’s love.

Military-style, semi-automatic firearms or "assault weapons" are like any other gun; pull the trigger and a bullet shouts. In 1994 the government had issues with "assault weapons" and as a result a ban was put on 19 military-style assault weapons, forcing many gun manufacturing companies into the ground. The 10-year assault weapon ban expired as of Monday, Sept. 13 allowing anyone age 18 or older to purchase a semi-automatic weapon such as an AK-47.

Gun rights advocates and the National Rifle Association (NRA) argue that the ban has done nothing to stop criminals from obtaining weapons and violates the Second Amendment. Gun control supporters on the other hand put forth statistics showing a dramatic decline in the criminal use of assault weapons since the ban’s enactment in 1994, according to The Science Christian Monitor. Until congress acts it is up to individual states to work on banning assault weapons.

Now, manufacturing companies for assault weapons will use millions of dollars to advertise their products. "Beretta USA Corporation is offering two free large-volume magazines with the purchase of certain guns. ArmaLite Inc. is inviting gun buyers to start placing orders for rifles whose manufacture has been banned for 10 years," according to Richard Simon of the Los Angeles Times.

The incredible irony is that these companies will pay millions of dollars advertising to convince people to buy their products. Movies, video games and television are big influences among adolescents. If they have no direct influence on young people why are these advertisers willing to pay such enormous amounts of money on advertising through these mediums? One of the most time honored cliches in popular American culture is the NRA’s "Guns don’t kill people. People kill people." This is more than a simplistic slogan. It seems to be a maxim, a belief system, an optimum principle that many of these manufacturing companies use to sell their products.

As of this past week Governor Schwarzenegger signed one of four bills banning bolt-action guns. With two other bills vetoed many supporters are curious about what to do. Ron Howard, an NRA member, states, "Just because a person owns a gun does not mean he’s a criminal. We have a ban on drugs however people get drugs despite the ban." The bans on guns may not seem as effective as the government believes because a person is still able to find a way to get what they want. As Howard states, "It has been proven by The National Institute of Justice which is part of the Federal Government that assault weapons have zero effects on crime. It does not stop criminals from obtaining these types of guns."

A survey was conducted among 30 students at CSULB, 15 boys and 15 girls. In the results 20 of the 30 agreed that the expired ban on assault weapons allowing anyone to own one would not cause an increase in gun violence (men 13: women 7). However 18 of the 30 believed that the ban should not be reinstated (men 11: women 7).

One of the students, Ben Hooker, who hunts in his free time, finds that the expiration of the assault weapon ban does not affect him. "As someone who has hunted before, I can’t see any plausible advantages for using semi-automatic/automatic weapons in the gaming industry. Hunters use rifles and shotguns, not assault weapons."

Like Hooker, many of the students said that they would never consider even using an assault weapon and rarely heard of cases in the general public where one of these weapons was used. All over the NRA website there are slogans that try to encourage people to protect their Second Amendment right allowing "the right to bear arms."

"Today’s political climate demands that all gun owners and Second Amendment supporters get involved in the fight to protect and preserve the Second Amendment. No matter what your background or experience level, every supporter of our freedom has a role to play," according to the NRA. Using guns in the military, for law enforcement, or for hunting is logical. In the

Constitution the founding fathers instituted the right for any person to use a gun in protecting their home or in times of self defense.

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them," Thomas Jefferson said to George Washington in 1796.

The founding fathers probably never thought of using guns among the uneducated for school shootings or hijackings.

CSULB policeman Stan Skipworth said that he agrees with the ban reinstatement. Due to the fact that publicity and enormity will drive a higher curiosity that will persuade people buy an automatic weapon during their window of opportunity.

"Personally, why would you need it? I feel there is no place for an individual to require a weapon in their home, there seems to be no logic or need there is a reason why they are called assault weapons." He also said allowing the bill to fade away will order law enforcement, legislation and residential communities to extend their help in educating the community about such weapons.

Katie DeBoer is a third year public relations major at CSULB.