Debate: Why own a .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle like the one used in Newtown, Conn.?
The victims of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy were all shot with a Bushmaster .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle - a rifle that is legal to own in Pennsylvania.
Debate: Why own a .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle like the one used in Newtown, Conn.?
This post has been updated.
The victims of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy were all shot with a Bushmaster .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle — a rifle that is legal to own in Pennsylvania.
The gun is a civilian version of the military’s M-16 and often seen at marksmanship competitions. It’s similar to the weapon used in the 2002 sniper killings in the Washington, D.C., area and in a recent shopping mall shooting in Oregon.
Versions of the AR-15 were outlawed in the United States under the 1994 assault weapons ban. That law expired in 2004, and Congress, in a nod to the political clout of the gun-rights lobby, did not renew it.
But, whether it’s legal or not, does anyone really need to own such a high-powered gun?
Bob Kostaras, owner of Classic Pistol in Southampton, Bucks County, and Shira Goodman, executive director of CeaseFirePA, debate that question:
Kostaras: “We have an indoor target range. We have people here all day shooting them. People enjoy it. They’re not prepping for end of the world, they just enjoy shooting them. For some, it’s a social thing, it’s a sport. Any weapon, a baseball bat, a car with a drunk driver behind the wheel, is much more dangerous and much more liable to kill somebody. Unfortunately, this person was mentally unstable and had access to the firearm that should have been kept out of his reach.”
Goodman: “Maybe this isn’t something that everybody should just be able to have access to.... Since there is access to them, that adds to the stream of guns that can then become illegal guns. Types of weapons that are available is a problem, but I believe it’s only part of the problem, because certainly we’ve seen much devastation with handguns or other kinds of rifles that people might have for the more legitimate hunting purposes or personal-protection purposes. I don’t think it’s just a matter of types of weaponry available.… Because citizenry has access to that type of weapon and it can be sold easily, it makes it more dangerous for when those guns fall into the wrong hands.”
Kostaras: "You don’t find your normal, responsible people getting in trouble for owning guns. They’re not dangerous in the right hands. They are in the wrong hands, but so is a car.... Criminals don't go to the gun store and buy the gun. They're not following the laws you and I follow, so they're not bound by them.... This is a terrible tragedy.”
Goodman: "The trouble with the original [assault-weapons] ban from 1994 to 2004 was the way the weaponry was defined, so it was easy to make modifications to certain things, then have weapons that may have complied with the letter of the law, but not exactly the spirit. I think we need to look at what it is we’re actually trying to prevent.... It’s about making sure that law-abiding gun owners are responsible for securing their weapons.”
Would people been as horrified if the shooter used gasoline and set the halls alight instead? NO amount of gun control will stop those who want to kill. These nutcases are purposely picking places where there are no guns to fight back. Notice that all of the recent killings were in Schools, theaters and malls? Places where it is unlikely that people will have guns with them for self denfense. If he walked into a police station and tried this stunt he would have been cut down quickly.
Once again. STOP punishing the law abiding peeople that had nothing to do with this.
— Wildman Bill- Yes, there are other things that could be used to kill people. One can even kill by hitting somebody on the head with a rock!
However, these guns make it faster, more people, more efficient before you can react.
It is an old argument! "Right to bear arms" should have SOME limitations on it just like any other right!— EIK 
Blame Everybody , it's Their fault .— oldsog67- Its not about who is responsible to own a weapon, its about which weapon should be allowed in society. To the advid hunter do you use 30rd clips while hunting? To the target/practice owner does it fell better shooting paper targets with 10rd clip or 30rd clip?
Is there a weapon standing in the corner of your bedroom/under your pillow just waiting to be used during a break-in?
I agree you have the right to protect your home/faimly! The excess of the style of weapons you need to do it needs to be curtailed!
How we go about doing it is now the debate, and the public also has the right to prevent those from owning these style weapons.
— gibby58 - 2nd amendment states for a well regulated militia nothing about average smucks buying giuns, Love how these Gun nuts want to blame everything but the guns, this whole country is insane. End video game violence and end all forms of assault weapons. we have to many stupid peiople living here now— bigtom blew3
- The problem is mental illness, as evidenced by most of the post on this site and I'm talking about both sides of the debate. Gun control or the lack of it won't fix the problem of people being mentally ill. Maybe we need to start talking about parenting control. There's no back ground check to make sure that you can parent effectively or even that you won't, forget it this argument is a waste of time. Obama politicizes a tragedy and his followers all fall in line.— gtb513
- One of our problems is that Americans don't talk enough with people we disagree with. Many of my rural relatives own guns and hunt. None of them own semi-automatics or use extended clips. Most hunters and NRA members support a ban or stricter controls on assault weapons. Statistics indicate that when people keep guns in their homes the guns are much more likely to be used in a family dispute -- or for suicide -- than for self-defense. I have never owed a gun. I am not a particularly fearful person and there are other options when it comes to defending yourself. No right is absolute. When rights conflict, they must be balanced with other rights. People have a right to live. Children have a right to grow up.— philapat
- Starts with "We The People" and when it becomes 51% towards banning some sort of guns then We The People have spoken. The discussion will continue regardless but when the tide turns it turns!— gibby58
- Where Do You Get 51% , The Both Parties that Voted for the "Emperor" ?
You May Find Most of That 51% have Changed their Minds about Him , and NEVER Had The 2nd Amendment on Their "Mindless" Heads when they Put Him Back on The "Throne" Just The Non-Amendable Economy !
He Wants "Supreme Power" , Not The 51% !— oldsog67 - There's absolutely no reason to own one. There should be absolutely no legal right to own one.
Next question.— carl and sons 
Columbine happened at a time when assualt weapons were banned. We have 310 million Americans and 300 million guns. We can ban military-style weapons again, and probably should. But that won't stop the violence embedded in a culture that permits the killing of six and seven month old babies, then cries when some madman murders six and seven year old babies. God help us all.— The Monk- Next Question : When Are You Turning in Your Keys To Your "Corvette" , or Other Thing You Don't NEED , But Want ?
I Hear They Go Pretty Fast , and With Most Speed Limits at 55 MPH , Then Get a VW Beetle , Because YOU DON'T NEED A VETTE !
If You Want Mine , Come And Get THEM ALL Comrade !— oldsog67 - Gibby 58,
It depends on what you are hunting whether or not you want a large capacity magazine, wild hog for example. As far as target/competition shooting, it depends on what you are doing. At a 3 gun event you definitely want the larger capacity magazine.
In the corner of my bedroom there is definitely a weapon with a large capacity magazine. Why would I not ensure that I have at least as good a chance as those that entered my home with ill intent?— thoughtfulsceptic - Hate to eat pork at your house without a metel detector. LOL
And assume you live alone or have a very good handle on those able to also reach your weapon!— gibby58
