Feinstein will introduce assault weapons ban in Senate

[krispos42]

123. Well, people are also pretty fast with a lever-action

and a pump-action. Bolt actions are the slowest, but they still aren't all that slow.


There are people out there that hunt dangerous game, and like to have quick follow-up shots handy. Wild pigs are pretty dangerous, and like to live in dense undergrowth that keeps shooting ranges short and intimate. And of course, when you're not only the hunter but also the hunted, you don't want the adrenaline surge and the frantic activity to inhibit your ability to reload and fire again.


Lots of people like semi-autos. They recoil softer, the detachable magazine makes them a cinch to unload before getting into a vehicle or climbing a tree stand, and they are much easier to shoot from awkward positions like prone or squatting. Particularly follow-up shots on fleeing game animals which may be wounded. And things like the pistol grip that upsets Senator Feinstein so much are actually more ergonomic and thus better for the shooter's hand and wrist than the traditional straight stock.

Lots of people like bolt-actions, too. They're cheaper, they can handle much more powerful cartridges, they tend to be more accurate, they are very reliable, and they work very well with hand-loaded ammunition.


But that's for sporting use. For self-defense (armed combat, if you will) the semi-auto is preferred for simplicity of operation.

The eternal problem is that a weapon that works well for self-defense also works well for offense.