Comments on: Absurdity and Machine Tools http://www.arizonarifleman.com/2008/09/16/absurdity-and-machine-tools/ Shooter, Scientist Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:46:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Arizona Rifleman http://www.arizonarifleman.com/2008/09/16/absurdity-and-machine-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Arizona Rifleman Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:01:16 +0000 http://www.arizonarifleman.com/?p=294#comment-297 Victor, The AR-15 is not an "assault rifle". It's just an ordinary, everyday semi-auto rifle. The M16, however, is an assault rifle. Minor quibble. It's quite easy (and exceedingly illegal) to modify many types of guns to full-auto. The mechanisms tend to be very simple. In most cases, it's actually easier to build an open-bolt machine gun than it is to make a closed-bolt semi-auto gun. See the Uzi for example -- the trigger and fire control system basically serves to prevent the gun from firing...otherwise it's default state is "fire". Victor,

The AR-15 is not an “assault rifle”. It’s just an ordinary, everyday semi-auto rifle. The M16, however, is an assault rifle. Minor quibble.

It’s quite easy (and exceedingly illegal) to modify many types of guns to full-auto. The mechanisms tend to be very simple. In most cases, it’s actually easier to build an open-bolt machine gun than it is to make a closed-bolt semi-auto gun. See the Uzi for example — the trigger and fire control system basically serves to prevent the gun from firing…otherwise it’s default state is “fire”.

]]> By: Victor http://www.arizonarifleman.com/2008/09/16/absurdity-and-machine-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Victor Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:40:33 +0000 http://www.arizonarifleman.com/?p=294#comment-296 Very interesting piece here, both from a technical and a political/legal point of view. I never knew what needed to be modified in order to upgrade an assault rifle to an automatic weapon, and I find it very interesting that it's just this tiny flat piece of metal. I also like your views on the ultimate role of laws as reactionary, as is obviously their proper role. Very interesting piece here, both from a technical and a political/legal point of view. I never knew what needed to be modified in order to upgrade an assault rifle to an automatic weapon, and I find it very interesting that it’s just this tiny flat piece of metal. I also like your views on the ultimate role of laws as reactionary, as is obviously their proper role.

]]> By: Chris Byrne http://www.arizonarifleman.com/2008/09/16/absurdity-and-machine-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Chris Byrne Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:28:30 +0000 http://www.arizonarifleman.com/?p=294#comment-274 Oh and I should note, any gun control plan that includes universal ban and confiscation is doomed to fail, unless the tyranical government (that would be necessary to accomplish the goal) were to impose strict licensing on machine tools, metals, and those with engineering or machinists skills as well. Oh and I should note, any gun control plan that includes universal ban and confiscation is doomed to fail, unless the tyranical government (that would be necessary to accomplish the goal) were to impose strict licensing on machine tools, metals, and those with engineering or machinists skills as well.

]]> By: Chris Byrne http://www.arizonarifleman.com/2008/09/16/absurdity-and-machine-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Chris Byrne Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:25:50 +0000 http://www.arizonarifleman.com/?p=294#comment-273 I've made them, in another country where doing so was not illegal. It can be done with a dremel tool and a blowtorch if you are so inclined. Suppressors are similarly easy to manufacture, though not with just a dremel... you need a bandsaw and a drill press too. It is simply not possible to prevent the unlawful acquisition of "machine guns" by those who wish to do so. I’ve made them, in another country where doing so was not illegal. It can be done with a dremel tool and a blowtorch if you are so inclined.

Suppressors are similarly easy to manufacture, though not with just a dremel… you need a bandsaw and a drill press too.

It is simply not possible to prevent the unlawful acquisition of “machine guns” by those who wish to do so.

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