Gun deaths attributed to mass shootings over a 48-hour period last weekend have brought the issue of “gun control” to the forefront of national discussion.
When talking about mass shootings, we have to clarify several things before we can have a debate. The term “mass shootings” refers to a gun-related incident in which four or more people are either injured or killed by a person or persons wielding firearms.
Centerfire long rifles with semi-automatic actions are made by virtually every major arms manufacturer. When a novice in weapons knowledge thinks about weapons used in mass shootings, they’re usually picturing a weapon based on the AR-15 platform, which is the civilian market version of the military’s M-16 or M-4 rifle. This weapon is of United States origin. The initials “AR” do not mean “Assault Rifle,” but instead are an acronym for the manufacturer “Armalite.” Another semi-automatic centerfire long rifle is based on former Soviet bloc design known as the AK-47.
The actions of rifles produced on the AR-15 and AK-47 platform can fire a wide variety of different calibers. This includes rimfire cartridges, centerfire cartridges and shotgun shells. The most prolific caliber for the AR-15 is the .223 Remington or the 5.56 NATO calibers, which are nearly, but not quite identical. The most prolific caliber for the AK-47 is the 7.62x39 mm. There are significant differences between the .223 and the 7.62x39 mm, but these cartridges were created for military use — in other words they were designed to be used against human beings.
The AR-15 is an easy platform for an amateur gunsmith to work, customizing or changing parts. It’s generally held together by a series of pins and screws. Knowledgeable AR-platform enthusiasts can tear down and reassemble the weapon using only a cartridge as a tool. The AR is made from stamped, forged or milled parts. Prices of new rifles of the same parts specifications, but made by different manufacturers, can vary in price from $500 to $1,500.
Anyone purchasing a new firearm from a licensed Federal Firearms License holder must pass a federal background check. There are different rules regarding firearms purchases and ownership in different states and it is the responsibility of the gun owner to know these nuisances in the law.
Often loopholes in gun purchase laws are considered to revolve around private gun sales between non-commercial parties. Again, laws vary from state-to-state, but in Wisconsin, private parties can sell guns to other individuals without conducting background checks.
How do mass shootings as a whole figure into civilian deaths? Noted scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson took up that statistical information this past weekend by publishing the following information on Twitter:
“In the past 48 hours, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings. On average, across any 48 hours, we also lose: 500 to medical errors, 300 to the flu, 250 to suicide, 200 to car accidents and 40 to homicide via handgun. Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data,” Tyson said.
The gun violence debate has been raging in the United States since Prohibition, when cheaply-made pistols of .32 or .38 caliber — known as “Saturday Night Specials” — were widely blamed for gang gun violence.
Tyson’s Tweet was met by criticism by some who said it downplayed gun violence.
When gun violence occurs in the form of mass shootings in the United States, arguments develop regarding increasing gun control. There are heated arguments from people on both sides of the issue.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution protects the right of the people to own firearms. Although the language used by those who penned the Bill of Rights is often argued, the amendment is solid.
There are about 400 million firearms of all varieties in the United States. That’s more than 1 gun per person. Due to the high number of firearms in the United States, those who wish to possess firearms illegally can do so easily. This makes enacting anti-gun legislation difficult, because it seems to penalize only those who wish to possess firearms legally.
Gun violence is more prevalent in the United States than any other modern nation. However, virtually all modern nations have mass shootings. The worst modern mass shooting by a single gunman occurred in Norway in 2011 leaving 77 people dead.
The debate over gun owner rights in the United States is one that runs deep and is virtually impossible to rectify. Although gun ownership is part of our culture, the requirements necessary for gun ownership will continue to grow as mass shootings occur.
— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
