Why would any non-military person need a semi-automatic weapon?

We need it to ward off govt intrusion

The govt has incredible firepower; we need at least this much

Once you give them up, you aint getting em back

I'm a gun owner and have no emotional attachment to my guns. That makes me super-qualified to answer.. But first let me clear some stuff up. When I was in the army I had an m-16 issued to me. The m-16 has a selector switch. The shooter can switch from safe to single shot to burst. A burst is 3 shots.

most shooting was done on single shot because you are firing at a target at varying distances.


this essentially means that any AR can function exactly like an m-16, as long as both are shooting just 1 bullet with 1 pull of the trigger.

that being said, the rationale is this: it makes shooting more fun by making it easier.

it is similar to asking what the rationale for power steering is. Ever drive a car with no power steering? It sucks!

there is absolutely no other answer. Single shot guns suck. Bolt action is accurate but is nowhere near the fun level. That's it!

since guns are legal to own then it makes sense to buy the most fun gun out there. This is why semi-auto's are popular right now, because for years they were banned and then suddenly they weren't.. And they're a shitload of fun!

some pricks will write "because it drops the bad guys faster". Or "because when I have to defend my freedoms it provides great protection" but this is bullshit.. The fact is that they are 1) cooler than shit looking and 2) funner than shit to shoot and 3) currently perfectly legal!

that's it! That's the God honest truth.

Why do I need them? Because the police, military, tsa, and most government agencies have them. If they have them, I need them to protect myself from them!

Even the Military recognizes that Full auto wastes ammo for very little results. Great for suppression fire, but that is about it.
Then there is this:
"The U.S. military is re-evaluating the Army’s use of the M4 rifle in Afghanistan following concerns that the Taliban’s primitive AK-47’s are proving more effective.

The M4 is an updated version of the M16, which was designed for close quarters combat in Vietnam. But while the weapon is better suited for the kind of urban warfare common in Iraq, some have questioned whether it is deadly and accurate for Afghanistan – where U.S. troops often find themselves in long-range combat.

An Army study found that the 5.56mm bullets fired from the M4s don’t retain enough velocity past 1,000 feet to kill an enemy. In Afghanistan, forces are often up to 2,500 feet apart."

Not all weapons are created equal. Each has its purpose.

Yes, most definitely! I think most (well, I hope most of us) gun owners know this.

Excuse me for coming off brusquely. I've become rather irritated at the Brits and Australians over the past few days on GLP.

Yes....but I will be dead before they get there....

Why die wile trying to call a man with a gun to save me, when I could live by use my own to save myself.

TO PROTECT US FROM TYRANICAL GOVERMENT! WHY DO YOU THINK THEY BOUGHT OVER ONE BILLION BULLETS?

I don't know, why would any non-racecar driver ever need a car that can go faster than the speed limit?


Why did the civilians of several other countries need military style weapons in the last few years?

Why is it that when someone is shooting at your enemy he is a freedom fighter but when they are shooting at you they are a terrorist?

I got my first semi-auto at the age of 3! The gun my father gave me he bought with his own money at the age of 8! He carried that gun to school nearly every day and kept it loaded in his locker just like the rest of the kids in his school, no one shot anyone back then in school.

Don’t try to blame anyone but your own family for not teaching you how to properly handle a fire arm.

Like a person who fears a cat because they heard cats might scratch you if you handle them wrong.

:Ba22:

CALL 911, AND DIE!

Cops are always minutes away, when you and your loved ones have seconds, to live!

So, you can't quite comprehend Article 2 of the Bill of Rights? "The right of the people, to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" is too ambiguous?

How about Article 9 regarding non-enumerated rights?

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

[link to www.ushistory.org]

In other words, the rights of the people are inalienable and cannot be denied simply because they are not outlined specifically.

Or, just because it doesn't say it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Otherwise, there would be no "right to privacy" because it doesn't say that anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, specifically.

There would be no right to abortion, or gay marriage (or marriage for that matter), or to any number of other inalienable rights.

This nation was never supposed to have a heavily powerful, centralized government. The power was to reside with the people.

Obviously, the power hungry have no interest in the U.S. Constitution nor do most of We, the people, feel compelled to understand our duty and responsibility to not only understand our power but further to implement it.

And, that's exactly how the politicians want it.

The 9th, is the key!

I just wish the 2nd said "The Right of the People to keep and Bear Arms, shall Not Be Infringed".

That "militia" shit, and the extra commas, muddied the waters.

OMFG.....for the tenth million time its to protect us from the tyranny of evil men and evil govt. WACO, Ruby ridge ring a bell. If not watch waco rules of engagement and get back with me. If not stfu and arm yourself with a nerf gun.

And the cops are just as likely to murder you as the other criminals are.

Super post.

what a red herrring.
the 2nd amentment is an excuse coz all ya'll would have granades, rock launchers and tanks..

BECAUSE a goddamn hunting rifle that holds 7 bullets and has to be re -cocked manually after each shot is a massive pain in the ass if a bunch of people are after you. What if two burglars come in and you shoot one and it takes 5 seconds to reload and shoot the second one.

Whats the rationale for military person who been train to kill people with automatic weapons need an a semi-automatic weapon? The answer is the same for the non-military person, the second amendment guarantees both of them the right to own such a weapon.

Workin' a bolt takes about 1 second.

But, that's beside the point.

You knew that, didn't you?

So why should the "government" be armed to the teeth, when the people they (supposedly) work for aren't allowed to be armed?

A gun is a gun! be it one shot or one hundred, if I can own one why not the other. Sad thing is you will always have one or two people no matter what law you pass will still find a way to kill a large number of people just to get on the news.
If every one was made to carry a gun you can dam sure bet their would be far less or no killing going on from this day on.

Let me answer YOUR question, with a question?

Why Are Domestic Government Agencies Purchasing Enough Lethal Ammunition to Put 5 Rounds In Every American?

Aug 17, 2012 ... Government buys ammo for agencies that don't need it. ... (SSA) confirms that it is purchasing 174 thousand rounds of hollow point bullets

Aug 20, 2012 ... Government responses to two recent stories involving the purchasing of hollow point bullets by government agencies are raising more ...

A government Of the People,

By the People,

For the People,

Where is MY share of that alleged billion rounds of ammo?

As an Australian i say 'THIS'

The militia is that body of civilian men aged 18 to 40 yrs old. It was the desire of the founding fathers that the bulk of military power rest in the hands of this Civilian army. This guarantees that the citizens will always rule. The revolution began when British troops marched on concord to seize the civilian stockpile of powder and ball in order to disarm the people. Read history and know where you came from!

In rebuttal of OP's post: Why does the Social Security Administration need all the semi-automatic ammo? Are they military trained?

I hate stupid...It is SEMI automatic. That means it fires once for every trigger pull.
And there are plenty other semi automatics that are far more powerful than a .223 caliber.
Everyone is afraid of them because they look mean I guess.
And one more thing. The pistols that nut job used were also SEMI auto's.

In a close quarters battle a shotgun is a devastating weapon, far more powerful than an AR 15 in .223, you can even get them in SEMI auto too.
Also GREAT for hunting rabbits and other cut, furry, and tasty animals.

I get so tired of hearing all these gun tards talking crap that they know NOTHING about.