I bought an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in Philly in 7 minutes

[brooklynite]

Philadelphia Daily News:

That's how long it took me to buy an AR-15, the semiautomatic rifle used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

Seven minutes. From the moment I handed the salesperson my driver's license to the moment I passed my background check.

It likely will take more time than that during the forthcoming round of vigils to respectfully read the names of the more than 100 people who were killed or injured.

Freedom...

[Matrosov]

1. How long should it take?

Honest question.

Would it make people feel better if it had taken seven hours? Seven days? Seven weeks?

It doesn't change the fact that Omar Mateen wanted to kill as many people as possible.

You don't go from wanting to take out a gay nightclub to being a perfectly adjusted human being just because you had to wait a certain amount of time to get your murder weapon.

[ChickenGuru]

7. I believe it should take

until the intermost circle of Hell freezes over before you can purchase any gun.
However, if you want to join a shooting club and rent a firearm for the time you spend on the range, I'm ok with that.
Hunters limited to bolt action.

[Matrosov]

21. I don't disagree n/t

[cleanhippie]

75. So much for due process then?

[MillennialDem]

87. My due process rights are being violated - I can't own a rocket launcher (without a permit)

[AtheistCrusader]

94. Rocket launchers are ordnance, not arms.

The courts have never held crew served weapons to be protected under the 2nd amendment.

[MillennialDem]

97. And guns are guns, not arms.

[AtheistCrusader]

99. Not according to the courts.

[MillennialDem]

113. Right, so you only have the courts to back you up. The constitution does not say the

word gun or firearm.

[AtheistCrusader]

115. Correct. The 2nd Amendment specifies 'arms'.

Which has been held by the courts to mean firearms and the ammo to operate them.

[MillennialDem]

116. And the court was wrong and should change it. Just like they were with Dred Scott or Bowers v

Hardwick.

[AtheistCrusader]

122. Disagree.

The court also left open the door for considerable registration and restriction.

[AtheistCrusader]

106. For a less snarky response, there are reasons for the delineation.

A rifle over a .50 bore is classified as a Destructive Device.
Area-effect weapons like anything explosive, also Destructive Devices. (there's your rocket)

The reason for the classification is simple; can it be used against a single target. Technically a .50 is an anti-material rifle, for shooting things like trucks, rather than people. What it does to a person is frankly, ridiculous. Anything over that is assumed to be for non-direct use against a person. Meaning you can't really use it for any purpose in the context of bearing arms to protect yourself or the state. So, no 20mm rifles for civilians nationwide. Explosives are right out. So that's grenades, rockets, howitzers, recoilless, etc. Can't use it against a person/target. Has splash damage.

[MillennialDem]

110. Yet switch blades are illegal, most knives over a certain number of inches, many

bows/crossbows, many homemade guns, shivs, certain batons, blackjacks/saps, etc...

Guns are given special treatment. That's the real reason explosives are not legal...

[AtheistCrusader]

114. Switch blades aren't illegal nationwide.

There are local ordinances that might restrict them. I know I can't have one in Seattle. But I can where I live, east of Seattle.

These things are regulated in different ways at different levels of government.

[MillennialDem]

117. The constitution overrides state/local law. If the well regulated militia part of the 2A is

irrelevant, then you have just as much right to own a switch blade as you do a gun.

Just because there's a law on the books that says it is illegal, that law is supposed to be unenforceable.

[AtheistCrusader]

121. That law has been WELL tested in the courts.

[MillennialDem]

143. So were many slavery and anti gay cases.

[Travis_0004]

154. Whats your point?

By the original constitution, slavery was allowed. We as a society decided that is wasn't right, and we passed an amendment to change the constitution.

So why not get to work on repealing the second amendment?

[Eleanors38]

144. "Special treatment?" Well, the Second Amendment, yes. nt

[MillennialDem]

158. I'm talking about knives vs guns. Why do guns get special treatment per the 2A?

[jmg257]

145. So when the 2nd congress, responsible for guidelines arming the militias, mandated what arms

the Militia members were to arm themselves with, they didn't mean including guns?

Pistols and muskets and firelocks are arms, but not guns...who knew?

[MillennialDem]

160. Ok, muskets and flintlocks then.

[jmg257]

162. And pistols - don't forget pistols. (and associated ammo for all the above) nt

[MillennialDem]

164. No modern pistols. Only stuff built before 1800.

[AtheistCrusader]

171. Um no. I didn't say that at all.

They ARE guns.

Hell, there was a 20 shot semi auto rifle 14 years before they ratified the 2nd amendment. It just didn't use gunpowder as propellant.

[jmg257]

172. I think I was responding to the post you responded to. No worries.

[MH1]

170. How about a LAW? (Light antitank weapon)

That's not a crew served weapon. But I'm pretty sure I can't legally own one.

[cleanhippie]

126. If you really believe that, the you should sue.

But we both know you're not serious, or making a serious argument.

[MillennialDem]

142. It just shows how BOUGHT even the court system is. Why do guns get so many special

rights/protections with respect to the 2A over more dangerous weapons (rocket launchers) and even less dangerous weapons (knives, bows, clubs)...

[cleanhippie]

159. Yes, so bought.

[George II]

8. I think the point is that checking the background of a buyer can't be very comprehensive if...

...it can be completed in seven minutes.

[LoverOfLiberty]

9. Do not try to confuse us with logic! n/t

[Matrosov]

24. It's not confusing

The NICS system isn't comprehensive.

Are you a convicted felon or guilty of certain misdemeanors? Nope? Having you been judged by a court of law to be mentally incompetent? Nope?

Here's your gun.

The problem is that many of the articles focus on the time it takes, specifically waiting periods, rather than on how comprehensive the background check is.

[LoverOfLiberty]

26. If a "comprehensive" background check

can be made in 7 minutes, its not very comprehensive.

[aikoaiko]

44. All the work of the check was already done.

I can't even imagine how many staff hours it takes from all the states to gather, process, and update electronic files.

When someone calls in for a NICS check, the work has been done. Its either a red light or green light (or possible delayed).

[LoverOfLiberty]

131. Sorry, that makes no sense

please elaborate how all the work is done before the background check is requested.

[bighart]

136. Criminal and mental health records are updated

and fed into the database on a daily basis thus the check is already done.

The NICS checks for felony convictions, domestic assault convictions and specific mental health findings that are required by law to be reported. That is essentially all an NICS check looks for.

[LoverOfLiberty]

157. Sounds to me like the system isn't working then

if so many people are falling through the cracks.

[aikoaiko]

141. Every state has to gather the data on an ongoing basis and provide those data to NICS

When the FFL holder calls NICS, NICS is not beginning the check with all 50 states as to whether or not they have any data indicating the applicant is prohibited from possessing a firearm. All that data has already been gathered and the NICS data bases are updated daily.

The time spent on the phone is really making sure they have identified the correct person which is usually easy if they supply their social security number (which is optional). Or sometimes there is an ambiguous entry that needs clarification, but those don't happen often.

[Eleanors38]

146. The biggest problem with NICS is that it isn't even faster and more accurate...

In this day of computers with a lap top on every judge's Bench, there are still lags in forwarding 2 simple data sets:

1) criminal convictions which keep one from purchasing a firearm legally.

2) adjudicated findings of one's mental incompetence which disqualifies a person from legal purchase.

I believe the VT murderer and the South Carolina murder were disqualified, but the data wasn't given to the Pony Express on time, and someone ran out of ink and parchment, somewhere....

[jmg257]

10. Its a simple call to NICS database - figure all computer driven with operators standing by. nt

[Adrahil]

13. Well, the "background check"

just includes whether or not you are a convicted felon, or are otherwise legally barred from owning a gun. That's it. It does NOT include suspicions, investigations, etc.

[George II]

18. In other words the "background check" here is a misnomer.

[Abq_Sarah]

137. Not at all

A NICs check only looks for things that legally disqualify you from a purchase. They're not going to interview your neighbors because your neighbor's opinion of you isn't a legal finding.

[yeoman6987]

20. How would a gun shop owner evaluate suspicion?

That would open a huge can of lawsuits for a myriad of reasons.

[IronLionZion]

29. many shops do it by skin color

and don't care about lawsuits

[Hoyt]

37. Well indirectly. Most gun purchasers are white people scared of their own shadow and often racists

and bigots. Just a fact. If you don't believe me, go to a few gun stores or gun shows.

[IronLionZion]

48. no thanks

I don't want to get shot, even by accident

[Travis_0004]

155. Yet most criminals with a gun are black

[Marengo]

61. Many shops deny purchases based on skin color?

[IronLionZion]

82. yep

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/11/30/muslim-free-gun-shop-owner-takes-aim-after-judge-tosses-lawsuit-against-him/

Because you can't accurately test someone for their religion, so they go by looks. It's easier and faster.

[Eleanors38]

147. A citizen in Austin hain't got no problem getting a gun...

One of our shops is owned by a man who is both black and gay.

You found an exception; most well-run shops don't mind picking up that guy's pee-diddly lost business.

[AtheistCrusader]

96. Not entirely true.

If you have been charged with even a misdemeanor domestic violence count, or if you have an active domestic violence restraining order, you will fail the NICS check, depending on whether the state in question has had time to report it to the federal database.

[aikoaiko]

46. All the data gathering is already done. Its not like they start from scratch each time you call NICS

Its basically a proceed or deny response from NICS based on the most recent data gathered.

[Hoyt]

52. But it's the interpretation of data that is lax. If some yahoo is buying a lot of ammo and gunz,

Last edited Tue Jun 14, 2016, 01:34 PM - Edit history (1)

somebody needs to say -- hey this yahoo is up to no good. If nothing else, they are polluting society with gunz and ammo. You gun promoters and profiteers are something else.

[aikoaiko]

64. Well she bought one rifle. Hardly a harbinger.

On what grounds should they hold her up? Maybe because she is a woman with dark features? An unusual last name?

Really, why should they prevent her from buying a rifle they intend to sell?

Sometimes I buy up to 5000 rounds of rifle ammo when prices are low. What's the big deal. If they asked me what I planned on doing with all that ammo, I would tell them I plan on shooting it. How far into my life should a gun shop owner delve into my personal life in order to determine if I can buy a couple of cases of ammo.

[Waldorf]

123. So if Cabelas or Academy is having a good sale on firearms/ammo, and a person takes advantage

of the sales, that makes them up to no good?

Does that go for everything somebody buys that is on sale?

[Hoyt]

124. More so than the guy who doesn't see the need to arm up. Find something besides lethal weapons to

obsess over. You and society will be better off. Buy a 38 Special 5 rounder and give up all the other crud if you just feel that you can't live without a gun.

[Waldorf]

129. I enjoy target shooting. I enjoy reloading my own ammunition.

I think society would be much better off if we could find a way to get rid of the criminals.

[Hoyt]

130. Well, your guns and ammo won't help in that respect. Just because you get a kick out of something

doesn't make it good for lots of other people.

[kacekwl]

11. If this type of weapon is going to be sold

to anyone it should be a long and difficult process. Might give those with such rage and hate time to cool of and change their mind. I mean really what's the hurry unless you have imedite plans to use it.

[LiberalArkie]

23. It should be at least as hard as being able to vote or getting an abortion.

[yesphan]

34. Charge $40,000.00 for the weapon.

The dealer makes the usual markup and the rest goes into a fund to help cover
the costs of the victims.

[calimary]

71. And wasn't it Chris Rock who suggested that guns remain affordable, but

bullets cost $5000 EACH.

[yesphan]

95. Indeed,

but that was to curtail drive by shootings..........

[Eleanors38]

150. That cost is acceptable in Zimbabwe currency...

20 trillion dollar note costs you $14.95 on the innertubes.

[NobodyHere]

151. So only the rich should be able to afford constitutional rights.

Gotcha

[reign88]

58. I'm OK with

tightening restrictions. For any type of home defense I'm comfortable with a shotgun and pistol, don't need a semi-automatic rifle. Though if the zombies come, I might regret my choice!

I think folks should be able to buy them, but I definitely think we can do better on the process to actually get one.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

62. Homer Simpson: "Five days!?! But I'm mad NOW!"

[bullwinkle428]

86. One of their best episodes EVER! Loved the gun shop name -

"Bloodbath and Beyond"!

[Glassunion]

31. I live in PA, and I own firearms. It is too easy to purchase them.

I run into more delays, and paperwork when I purchase pseudoephedrine to treat a medical condition, than I do to purchase a rifle in PA. The OP is 100% correct that it takes less than 10 minutes, in fact in my experience it took about 5.

I personally feel that owning a firearm is an individual right, however it is too easy to obtain in quite a few states.

I find it hilarious all of the hoops (background checks, fingerprints, references, employment history) a coworker had to jump through before he could coach his son's little league t-ball team to make sure he was not a threat or danger to the children, yet there is seemingly nothing more than a "have you never be caught doing something bad" form that one needs to fill out before they can purchase a very deadly weapon. Did I mention my coworker has to continually renew their certifications for as long as he wishes to coach his son's teams?

To me it's not so much the number of days, this has not been proven to be a deterrent. I understand that some view the 2nd as this all powerful right, not to be regulated (modern meaning) in any way possible, and others view it as some sort of guarantee that the National Guard be armed, and regulated (again modern meaning) by the state and citizens have no right to a firearm. I feel that there can be a middle ground... But to get there both parties with extreme views one way or the other need to be left out of the conversation.

[mainstreetonce]

156. Send that to Bob Casey

He is ready to help.

[uponit7771]

36. 6 months and a psych exam and a level 5 security exam and a IQ test and ability to vote democratic

... party

for starters

[Matrosov]

39. Good answer n/t

[Eleanors38]

152. Propose that to the DNC. Demand it be in the Platform. Report back. nt

[AirmensMom]

47. How about forever?

There is no need for people to buy or possess such things.

[wordpix]

69. certainly longer than 7 mins. - see this WaPo article

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/14/the-orlando-shooter-bought-his-guns-legally-which-is-exactly-why-gun-laws-matter/

Basically, due to FL's lax gun laws, this guy wasn't exactly investigated for a background check, even though he had threatened his wife and been questioned in 2013 about terror-related communications.

[Abq_Sarah]

138. Florida follows federal law

If you have no felony, DV convictions or restraining orders, you will pass the background check, in accordance with federal law.

[Eleanors38]

153. Sarah is spot on.

[calimary]

70. Oh, maybe a few minutes less than FOREVER!

There is NO justification for military-grade assault weapons to be in civilian hands. NONE.

I will NOT be ruled by paranoiacs. Seems to me that's NOT what our country is about. Or maybe more accurately - what it used to be about.

[karynnj]

74. Infinite time - no one needs or should have a gun designed to do exactly what happened in Orlando

This was a gun designed for the military -- there is no legitimate civilian use.

[phazed0]

109. To the contrary, this gun...

was designed for civilian use and was never for military. No 3 round burst or automatic function. Semi-automatic only. Troops don't carry these.

[karynnj]

112. Please tell me a valid use of this gun by a civilian

Other than to shoot 100 people in a very short time - killing 49 of them.

Sorry - this is not a toy and it it certainly does not seem like a sportsmanly thing to use to kill wild animals.

[phazed0]

118. Can be used for hunting, like any other gun. Target shooting?

No gun is a toy, this gun never claimed to be a toy. The most common AR's are either .223 or 7.62. The .233 caliber is generally banned from hunting as the caliber usually doesn't kill the target. The 7.62 caliber on the other hand is found in many other rifles.

Here's 24 other guns that shoot the same caliber bullet with the same devastation, so I fail to see how this gun is any less "sportsmanly":
http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/24-of-the-best-7-62mm-458-socom-and-300-blk-rifles/#twa15-rifles-aac

I'm not opposed to your notion, but if you're going to spit out lies and incorrect conjecture to defend it, well, that doesn't help either side of the argument.

[karynnj]

128. I have never touched a gun and have never claimed any expertize - If I was wrong, I am wrong

It was not a lie.

The reason I said it was not sportsmanly is because of the number of misses you obviously could have and still kill the animal. As to other guns that use high caliber bullets, they too are not sportsmanly.

In the words of the Beatles:



Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mom
He's the all American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marvel zapped in right between the eyes, zap!
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
"Not when he looked so fierce", his mummy butted in
If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him
All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

Oh ho!

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill?

[1StrongBlackMan]

102. In my view ...

How long should it take?

I'd be happy if it took FOREVER.

[AllyCat]

111. Seven lifetimes

[Dem2]

134. I'm going with a 4 month waiting period

And restrictions that make a person really have to think long and hard about the burden of owning said "useful for basically murder" guns. One should have to report in periodically for psyche exams and show that said iron is being used for something "sporting" since the NRA likes to refer to them as such.

[stonecutter357]

2. Disgusting.

[yeoman6987]

22. I'm surprised a democratic state like pennsyvania doesn't have a wait period but

Republican Florida does. Weird.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Only the PA governor is a Democrat

The legislature is GOP majority and this state is big big big for hunting and fishing (my father and grandfather fished and used to go upstate to hunt moose).

[GoneOffShore]

100. Pennsylvania is also known as Pennsyltucky or Alabavania.

Used to be we had more hate groups on the SPLC list than any other state.

[ileus]

3. Wait until you hit the range with it...

It's a lot of fun to plink around with.

[reign88]

60. I was actually surprised

at how easy there are to shoot. I really didn't have much fun beyond the first hour or so though. It was an indoor 50yd range so it really wasn't difficult to do, especially with good sights.

I prefer pistol shooting at the range. I think a lot of folks who have never shot pistols before would be very surprised at how hard it is to hit a target accurately from 15 yards. Heck, 10 even. My wife and I like to have competitions, neither one of us is a great shot so it works out.

[jmowreader]

79. That was the intent

One of the things the Army wanted was a rifle that is easy to shoot accurately - most people joining the service never fired a rifle before, and a rifle that's easy to shoot cuts down on training time.

[hack89]

4. If you pass the background check then so what?

Why should it take a long time in an age of Internet technology?

[Hoyt]

40. Definitely wouldn't want to inconvenience some gun yahoo for the benefit of society.

[hack89]

42. He passed the background check

why should it take longer?

[Hoyt]

45. Well in his case, it should be obvious. In other yahoos' cases, we don't need anymore friggin guns

no matter how much it would impact you life and love of the darn things.

[hack89]

59. I love you Hoyt

you are the best practioner of DU performance art by a wide margin

[Brickbat]

5. I'm never quite sure of the purpose of columns like this. Do the authors want the time to be longer?

If so, how much longer? Is it the specific gun that bothers them? Why are they buying it, if they don't want it? Is it possible to go through with the purchase and, occasionally, use, in a neutral fashion, without applying personal bias or belief to it in advance? If not, what are we learning from the exercise?

[jmg257]

12. I am surprised that others are surprised about this.

But realize that if you aren't around the gun culture, you would be ignorant of such things.

[Brickbat]

16. True, but I feel like enough think pieces have run in publications dedicated to looking at certain

aspects of American culture and class in an "us-them" fashion that the topic is tired.

[PoliticAverse]

6. It would have only have taken her a minute to find out that it wasn't actually an AR-15 used.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/assault-rifle-used-by-orlando-mass-shooter

[1939]

38. Not an AR-15, just a "sexier" version of it.

You could make a wooden stock, no hand grip version of this that looked like a baby M14 and it would still shoot the same bullets, just as fast, just as far, and just as accurate. It just wouldn't look as nasty.

[jmowreader]

78. "Could"?

Ruger has made exactly that gun for decades. It is the Mini-14 and it is (1) very popular among gun enthusiasts and (2) not popular among the mass murderer community. They make a stainless steel version that farmers love because they can leave it on the tractor without worrying it'll rust solid.

[1939]

83. You are right

It does come in .223 caliber.

[jack_krass]

14. Good. This means the gov has done well implementing

An efficient background checking system.

[jmg257]

15. She should go to a Gander Mountain - they take forever.

I am sure they are extra busy now.

So much for the summer "lull".

[Bonx]

25. Gander is a good place to browse. Haven't bought there though.

[ileus]

81. Fun to look at, pain in the wallet to buy from.

Same with Bass Pro...

I just ordered a new Smallmouth rod, paid out the nose for it but at least I bought from a small builder.

http://www.smalliestix.net/

[Bonx]

89. Nice !

[justiceischeap]

17. It should be as difficult to purchase a weapon as it is

for women to get abortions in most states. You know, the sanctity of life and all.

[jmg257]

27. Why is gun buying compared to abortions? Is there a similarity i am missing? nt

[justiceischeap]

41. Waiting periods. Nt

[jmg257]

53. Ah thank you. nt

[NickB79]

165. So we're OK with abortions taking a long time to obtain, and to be difficult in general?

In my perfect world, women could get abortions the same day they go into the clinic if they wanted them. Walk in, no BS, and be in control of their lives as Roe V. Wade said they could be.

It's the GOP that wants to keep it hard for women to control their own bodies, and we shouldn't be accepting of that.

Exercising a Constitutional right shouldn't be difficult to do.

[justiceischeap]

167. Whoosh is the sound of the point going over your head

Everyday the republican controlled house tries to limit a woman's access to health care, which includes abortions. If they spent as much time infringing on my health care rights trying to tackle the problem with mass shootings, maybe something would get done. And though I have a legal right to an abortion, they sure as hell have spent a lot of time and money making it as difficult as possible for women to get them. So why shouldn't they do the same with guns.

I agree, it shouldn't be difficult for a woman to get an abortion but I do think it should be difficult as hell to get a gun.

[NickB79]

174. I understood your point. It's a juvenile one, frankly

they sure as hell have spent a lot of time and money making it as difficult as possible for women to get them. So why shouldn't they do the same with guns.

Because stooping to the level of a knuckle-dragging pro-life Republican is the epitome of stupid. We won't get anywhere by behaving like them. We will just solidify the idea that it's NORMAL to make exercising one's civil rights difficult, which is the polar opposite of where we want to go.

[yeoman6987]

19. In Florida there is a 3 day wait period

[jmg257]

30. Is that just for handguns? nt

[sl8]

51. "The State of Florida does not require a waiting period for the purchase of a long gun."

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cms/FPP/FAQs2.aspx

...
The State of Florida does not require a waiting period for the purchase of a long gun.
Individual counties, cities and municipalities have the ability to pass laws that add or lengthen the waiting period for any type of firearm. Please consult your local County Commission for more detailed information.
...

[yeoman6987]

65. AR-15. Not sure what else

[yeoman6987]

66. Some are saying that might just be the location where I live have 3-day but not whole state

[jmg257]

67. Thanks you! nt

[HockeyMom]

33. Not if a person has a Florida CCW

That can be digitally confirmed. Since Mateen had that carry permit, he could have bought those guns immediately. That requires Fingerprinting, as does getting a State Security License.

[uponit7771]

49. Not for the AR-15 ish weapons, its zero... the shop owner said as much IIRC

[donnasgirl]

28. I have a serious question

Would there be any reason for you to have failed a background check?

[metalbot]

92. Yes

In fact, 80,000 people fail background checks every year (and we prosecute only a handful of them, but that's a separate rant).

You can fail a background check if:
1. You've been convicted of a felony
2. You've been convicted of a misdemeanor covered under the Lautenberg amendment (domestic violence)
3. A judge has ruled you incompetent
4. You have been indicted for a felony
5. Most importantly, 1-4 have to be loaded to the NICS system. In general, this works ok, but there can be delays (in indictment information), or things could be missed (mental health issues often are).

[DesMoinesDem]

35. The Orlando shooter didn't use an AR-15.

That's how long it took me to buy an AR-15, the semiautomatic rifle used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

No, it wasn't used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. He used a Glock 17 and a Sigsauer MCX.

[DesMoinesDem]

54. Antigun nuts don't seem to know the difference between any rifles.

They're all AR-15s to them.

[bullsnarfle]

80. I live in Florida, and the new reports I watched

indicated AR-15. Including law enforcement interview at scene. So how about dialing back the snotty-ness?

[DesMoinesDem]

88. That just proves my point.

The media know nothing about guns and every rifle is always referred to as an AR-15. This happens every single shooting.

[bullsnarfle]

108. Guess the cops at the scene

were dumb anti-gun nuts too.

[DesMoinesDem]

119. They said it was an AR-15 style gun, not an AR-15.

The media dropped the 'style' because to them everything is an AR-15 so the word is meaningless.

[Demit]

120. "This happens every single shooting."

You probably don't realize how really sad that sounds.

So many chances and the media STILL can't get the brand name right.

[DesMoinesDem]

127. It's true.

There are a lot of shootings. Far too many. And the media has learned absolutely nothing from them. They're supposed to be informing people about the facts but they remain completely ignorant of them. They seem to think their job isn't about distribution of facts, but instead about creating hysteria about a certain gun type.

[Demit]

135. A certain gun TYPE, as you say. Mass murderers seem to use the same gun TYPE.

The gun TYPE being one that's light, easy to hold and easy to shoot, accepts large magazines, and is deadly accurate.

So what if the AR-15 has become the stand-in name for the gun TYPE? Why does that upset you? Do you have stock in the company or something?

Maybe, because the gun is becoming so popular with mass murderers, and mass murders are becoming more frequent, "AR-15" on its way to becoming a generic term, the way Kleenex and Xerox and Band-Aid have done. That's what should be upsetting you. The carnage, the repeated death and destruction, caused by the type of gun it is.

[DesMoinesDem]

139. Why does pointing out the ignorance of people about guns upset you?

You prefer inaccurate reporting to fact? Do you want people to remain ignorant on guns? Seems like you do. Stock in what company? What the hell are you talking about?

[Demit]

149. The carnage caused by the gun upsets me greatly. Your petty insistence on details is just sad.

People are still reeling, horrified at the devastation in Orlando, and you're running around saying "Isn't it awful that the early reports got the gun's name wrong?" as if that changes what it did.

[DesMoinesDem]

161. Yes, you're the only one upset by the shooting.

It's above you to care about the details. You are much better than everyone else. You know that about 50 people were killed and you don't need to know anything else. And if you do learn anything else you don't care if its true or not, because that is just details and details don't matter. I get it. You don't care about facts. You can stop replying to me now.

[HockeyMom]

43. This is why my husband wanst to move to Pa., and not back to NY

More lax gun rules than in NY with registration, permits, fees, etc. Where we live now in Florida is very similar. I did read that Open Carry in Pa. is legal, but generally frowned upon by both law enforcement, businesses, and general public.

[Amishman]

56. I've lived in PA the majority of my life

And other than the occasional hunter in woods/field out here in the boonies, I have never seen open carry even though it is legal. I'm glad that people around here, even the gun nuts, realize that can =/= should

[dumbcat]

55. How long should it take to query a national database

over the internet?

[Bad Dog]

57. BBC article on buying guns in Florida.

What would prevent you from buying a gun under Florida law?

After a 29-year-old gunman opened fire in Pulse Nightclub, killing 49 revellers over the course of a three-hour siege on Sunday, one of the first questions asked was, how did he obtain his weapons?

The answer: He did so legally, from a gun shop called the St Lucie Shooting Center.

"An evil person came in here and legally purchased two firearms from us," said store owner Ed Henson in a press conference outside the store. "He passed a background check that every single person who purchases a firearm in the state of Florida undergoes."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36522570

[Herman4747]

63. And why exactly does one need an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle? n/t

[Elmergantry]

72. rights are not parcelled out based on "need" nt

[Herman4747]

73. How are answers to questions posed parcelled out? nt

[hunter]

84. The second amendment is bullshit just like slavery was bullshit.

The Constitution wasn't written by God. (Neither was the Bible.)

Piss on your guns.

Gun love is disgusting.

[Elmergantry]

105. bless you

[spirald]

85. Limitations on some rights are necessary to ensure the free exercise of others

Your comment reflects a common NRA talking point that does nothing to further the debate, and is contradicted by decades of settled US law that allows for firearm regulation based on need, and the overall settled jurisprudence that allows certain rights to be limited so as not to impact the free exercise of other rights.

[Elmergantry]

107. and so far

There is no legal restrictions based on "need" to purchase a semiautomatic long rifle. As it should be.

[Demit]

125. There is such a thing as the general welfare.

Someday the tide will turn. The public will grow weary of the costs of the carnage incurred by easy access to such lethal weapons. They are a threat to the public welfare. We'll get the restrictions, and that will be as it should be.

[Elmergantry]

168. If I am not mistaken,

You could get a Tommy Gun (FULL AUTO) thru a catalog. No background checks, no questions asked.

Yet, no mass shootings.

What has changed?

The people or the weapons?

[PatrynXX]

68. can't technically buy an AR-15.

has to be a knockoff . you can build an AR-15 but I don't believe you can legally sell it. not really sure about that. Dad bought the cheap plastic knockoff from Sig Saur (sp) brother built the $1000 full metal AR-15. Took him a few months but in reality it would cost near $3000. since it's 99 % metal. all he had to do is register the trigger assembly. it's the AR-15 is where we lost my brother to the Right Wing

[jmg257]

76. Pretty sure Colt is still making them(?) An XM-15 would be close, M-15, also an AR-10.

S&W M&P-15? Ruger SR-15?
etc etc

Plenty to choose from.

[AtheistCrusader]

98. AR-10 is the .30 caliber version. (.308 or 7.62x51mm NATO)

[jmg257]

101. Yep. Would typically prefer that over the 5.56. nt

[AtheistCrusader]

104. I'm extremely glad the muderer at Pulse didn't have one.

.30 cal is my preference too, but only because of larger game, like Deer/Elk.

[DrBulldog]

77. Frankly, we should replace the American bald eagle with a silhouette of the AR-15 . . .

. . . so at least we can present ourselves honestly to the rest of the world.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

90. No one should be able to purchase a killing machine.

That is what they are. Too many of us are unstable and angry. A great coolong off period with no weapons should be legislated and the NRA neutered.

[OldRedneck]

91. I can beat that.

I was in local gun shop last week buying cleaning supplies. Guy walked in, walked out with Smith & Wesson M&P-15 in 5 minutes.

Anyone want to try for 4 minutes???

[rdking647]

93. when i wanted to volunteer a an animal shelter i had to be fingerprinted and pass a background check

gun buyers should have to undergo the same

[melm00se]

132. already did for my concealed carry permit

[KamaAina]

103. Hell, it takes longer than that to get a cheesesteak!

[ManiacJoe]

133. Because the sandwich is not prepared ahead of time.

[Warren DeMontague]

140. How long does it take you to buy a gram of legal recreational marijuana in Philly?

Ha! Ha! Dont be ridiculous! That stuff is dangerous!

[mcar]

148. Wow

Takes most people longer to vote - if they can vote.

[cliffordu]

163. Registering to vote takes longer than that.

Shit, in a lot of places actually voting is almost impossible if you don't have the correct documentation.

What's wrong with this picture?

[hack89]

169. We need to modernize our voting technology? Nt

[NickB79]

166. It's a testament to how well-run the NICS background check system is

Hundreds of millions of records, all compiled and updated daily, and accessed thousands of times an hour across a nation of 300 million people.

I'd be more nervous if more people were delayed on a regular basis and had to wait a few days before being cleared. That would indicate the system was poorly managed, with a lot of grey areas where purchasers with criminal backgrounds could fall through the cracks and be missed. The NICS default for any ambiguity is to delay.

No one should be angry the system approved her so fast. That's what the system was designed to do.

If you're angry there isn't a waiting period, or that a more detailed licensing system isn't used, or that such guns are even available on store shelves, that is something to address through legislature. Here in Minnesota, we treat assault rifles the same as handguns: you can't purchase one without a handgun permit from your local police department. You go in, fill out paperwork, they take 1-2 weeks to perform a background check, then send you your permit in the mail. With this permit, you can purchase your handgun or AR-15. It's good for 3 years, I believe, and then you have to update it again. If you move to a new police district, you have to re-apply.

[Blue_Tires]

173. This one is actually much worse:

The Gun: How I Bought an AR-15 in a Five Guys Parking Lot

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/the-gun-how-i-bought-an-ar-15-in-a-five-guys-parking-lot/Content?oid=3421127

[deaniac21]

175. I had one

turn me into a newt!

[Lee-Lee]

176. And now it's been revealed that the author of this probably committed a felony straw purchase

She detailed in her video that the purchase was an "assignment" and that she used the corporate credit card and corporate funds.

That means under the law she purchased the rifle for someone else- in this case a corporation because corporations can buy firearms- using that other persons money at their direction.

100% straw purchase.

It doesn't matter that then corporation could have legally purchased the gun in its name, because she did so it's a straw purchase. This was taken up in the Supreme Court a few years ago in Abramski vs US.

Evidently by transporting it around other than taking it directly from the store to her home she also violated some local laws too in Philly.

There is much irony in someone breaking the law in an effort to claim more laws are needed. And funny think is if she isn't prosecuted she will be a textbook case for the NRA to point at and say "you don't enforce the laws we have now why don't you do that before claiming we need new ones".

And anyone so ignorant of existing laws to do those has zero credibility advocating for new ones.