Purdue editorial: Automatic Assault rifles easy to buy

[Soap]

Okay, here it is:

Mr. Westervelt,

I can certainly get behind you on worrying about a drug-dealing operation next door but unfortunately, you do not have the facts straight on the so-called "assault rifle".

Firstly, the rifle was likely not a true automatic. Such rifles are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 and thus, are very difficult and costly for private citizens to obtain. See also the Firearms Owner Protection Act of 1986.

Secondly, the 1994 "ban" on "assault rifles" was not effective at all, as you imply yourself. In fact, the amount of crimes committed with semi-automatic military-style weapons are so low, that the Bureau of Justice reports in their "National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993-2001" that "Other Guns" (ALL guns other than handguns) were used in less than 1% of all violent crimes.

Third, regardless of statistics, our great country was founded on fundamentals rights for all citizens. The Right to Bear Arms was so key, that the Constitution's framers made it the second item to be enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Ironically, the first gun laws in this country were passed to keep freed slaves from owning firearms. Gun ownership is woven into the very fabric of American culture for a very good reason. And that reason has nothing to do with duck hunting.

I cordially invite you to come to the range with me anytime. If you’re expecting a bunch of toothless hill folk at the range, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. What you might find are intelligent and competent people from many different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and education levels who are united by the bond that can only be shared by free men and women of this fine country.

-Daniel Flory, ’09 MBA, ’04 Alumnus

 

[Officers'Wife]

Hi Sandwich,

Point taken, I apologize to fast food workers everywhere.

Selena

 

[Superpsy]

my email...

Mike,
I just read your article entitled, "Assault rifle discovery raises questions for Purdue students, city." I just wanted to let you know that your article is factually incorrect. There are a number of points you raised that show you did little to no actual research on the topic and demonstrate unfamiliarity with firearms.

Just a few:
1. The expired assault weapons ban did not ban automatic weapons. This is a common misconception. The now expired ban actually banned cosmetic features of firearms that had nothing to do with function. Some examples? Pistol grips, certain magazine capacities and flash hiders. "Assault rifle" is a misnomer.
2. Just passing a background check is not enough to own automatic weapons (much more extensive checks are required and such firearms are prohibitively expensive). I believe you are referring to semi-automatic firearms. Semi-automatic firearms require a trigger pull for each round fired.

There are many aspects of your article that I disagree with but I wanted to focus on the factual errors. I recognize that your column was an opinion piece but please please do some research.

Sincerely,
Tim

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

My reply letter has be edited and resubmitted. If they keep their word and publish it, there ought to be some interesting replies.

Most of all, I hope this guy shows up to club to shoot.

 

[sandwich]

My reply letter has be edited and resubmitted. If they keep their word and publish it, there ought to be some interesting replies.

Most of all, I hope this guy shows up to club to shoot.

Let us know what happens.

 

[Ballistic308]

Purdue Editorial Response

Howdy All,

For what it's worth, I sent a letter to the editor(s) of this publication. I doubt it will wake anybody up over there, at least it should jar loose a few dormant brain cells in a few readers. If it results in one less professional victim, I will sleep soundly.

 

[hobgob]

Amen Mr. Flory, I was going to write an email but i couldnt quite find words eloquent enough. harshness kept creeping its way into the email, so i abandoned the effort untill i read your email. very well said sir. i took some inspiration from your email and sent one of my own. hopefully the publication and the writer will enough letters to make see the error of their judgement.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

Well, I just got back from club, and guess what? The Exponent sent someone to interview us. Not the author of the opinions piece, but one of their reporters. Myself and one of the club armorers talked to him for a while and it went pretty well. He wasn't confrontational or opinionated in his questions, he just wanted our side of the story. He brought a photographer with him, and the photographer says he'll be back next week to shoot. Maybe when my letter gets published the author will show up. I'd also be interested to see what they publish about us.

 

[Seancass]

I think since you're a school club, the article will be positive. I hope they get accross how saftey concious it is. Maybe it'll bring even more people in. pretty soon we'll have to get a bigger armory.

(p.s. no, i'm not a member, and no, i don't have a good excuse for that.)

 

[Soap]

Here is an updated stories and two letters that appear in today's edition:

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9520

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9523

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9522

 

[jerkin]

Does anyone writing for this paper do any research? Quote from above article:

"Due to the law requiring a carry permit to have a handgun on your person for any amount of time, however, it is technically illegal to take one home from a gun retailer before first acquiring a carry permit."

I'm not even from Indiana and it took me all of 2 minutes to find this:

01/29/2008 02:06:41 PM EST
IC 35-47-2
Chapter 2. Regulation of Handguns

IC 35-47-2-1
Carrying a handgun without a license or by person convicted of domestic battery
Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 2 of this chapter, a person shall not carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body, except in the person's dwelling, on the person's property or fixed place of business, without a license issued under this chapter being in the person's possession.
(b) Unless the person's right to possess a firearm has been restored under IC 35-47-4-7, a person who has been convicted of domestic battery under IC 35-42-2-1.3 may not possess or carry a handgun in any vehicle or on or about the person's body in the person's dwelling or on the person's property or fixed place of business.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32. Amended by P.L.326-1987, SEC.1; P.L.195-2003, SEC.6; P.L.98-2004, SEC.155; P.L.118-2007, SEC.35.


IC 35-47-2-2
Excepted persons
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this chapter does not apply to:
(1) marshals;
(2) sheriffs;
(3) the commissioner of the department of correction or persons authorized by him in writing to carry firearms;
(4) judicial officers;
(5) law enforcement officers;
(6) members of the armed forces of the United States or of the national guard or organized reserves while they are on duty;
(7) regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States or from this state who are at or are going to or from their place of assembly or target practice;
(8) employees of the United States duly authorized to carry handguns;
(9) employees of express companies when engaged in company business;
(10) any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms or the agent or representative of any such person having in his possession, using, or carrying a handgun in the usual or ordinary course of that business; or
(11) any person while carrying a handgun unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or to a place of repair or back to his dwelling or fixed place of business, or in moving from one dwelling or business to another.
As added by P.L.311-1983, SEC.32.

 

[Siderite]

I contacted the city editor (who wrote the article) and main editor about the incorrect info this morning. They said a "clarification" will be printed tomorrow. We'll see how far back they bury it.

 

[Siderite]

Clarification ran on the front page "In Tuesday's edition of the Exponent, in the story titled "Indiana gun laws spark controversy," it is stated that a carry permit is required to take a handgun home after purchase. However, Indiana law makes an exception for taking a handgun to one's dwelling or fixed place of business from the retailer while still unloaded and in a secure wrapper."

Another letter was published, but none of the ones posted here have been.

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9602

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

And another:

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9670

 

[KBintheSLC]

It's just what tons of college students do for their papers.... make a whole bunch of baloney up that sounds good and hope for a B.

That is how I survived my undergrad. However, this one doesn't even qualify for a B.

 

[Siderite]

Another one today:

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9696

 

[doubleg]

Dombkowski said that during a subsequent search, police found not only the AK-47, but nearly two pounds of marijuana and $3,800 in cash.

ZOMG!! Two pounds of weed and 4k along with a AK? Wooooo what a drug bust. I know people who have got chaught with far worse things and never spent a day in jail. (I'm assuming the AK is semi which it probably is.)

 

[Seancass]

Two pounds of weed and $4k

who cares about that!!?? didnt you read? the dude had a gun! he was probly going to get high, buy 4000 $1 hookers, and then shoot up the whole town. HEELLLLLLOOOOO HE HAD A AUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON!!!!!! (it was semi-auto of course)

the peice posted by Siderite made the paper today.

 

[serrano]

I feel these were the 3 best.

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9522

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9670

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9696

 

[Crash_Test_Dhimmi]

I honestly dont see what the big deal is to his neighbor having a semi automatic rifle. I live in an apartment with 2 roomies, I have an M4 with 3 round burst along with a few hand grenades, my roomies are cool with that, because my roomies have an M16A2 with 3 round burst, and an M4 with 3 round burst. And we all get along just fine, talk about politics, talk about our women, and do our daily chores, no biggee. No one gets upset or writes an editorial in a pissant newspaper about it.

Im also in Iraq.

 

[Siderite]

Daniel Flory's letter was published today. Not yet posted to the online purdueexponent.org site.

 

[Nobody's_Hero]

WARNING: I clicked on your link and McAfee alerted me that I had a trojan quarantined! If anyone else can confirm this using I.E. w/ McAfee, we need to take that link down!

And yes that article sucked.

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

Flash-alert!

something happened at the link, indeed. There is malicious software that downlaods when visiting that link.

at least my softare too alerted me to virus spyware code at the site

st

 

[DonP]

FYI, a published response (finally) in today's paper.

Not that the original author will let facts get in the way of a good emotional rant. I did enjoy how he totally brushed by the drug dealing next door and focused on the rifle.

Column confuses facts, right to bear arms crucial

I can certainly get behind you on worrying about a possible drug-dealing operation in your neighborhood, but unfortunately you do not have the facts straight on the so-called "assault rifle."

Firstly, the rifle was likely not a true automatic. Such rifles are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 and thus are very difficult and costly for private citizens to obtain. See also the Firearms Owner Protection Act of 1986.

Secondly, the 1994 "ban" on "assault rifles" was not effective at all, as you imply yourself. In fact, the amount of crimes committed with semi-automatic military-style weapons are so low, that the Bureau of Justice reports in their "National Crime Victimization Survey, 1993-2001" that "Other Guns" (all guns other than handguns) were used in less than 1 percent of all violent crimes.

Third, regardless of statistics, our great country was founded on fundamental rights for all citizens. The right to bear arms was so key that the Constitution's framers made it the second item to be enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Ironically, the first gun laws in this country were passed to keep freed slaves from owning firearms. Gun ownership is woven into the very fabric of American culture for a very good reason. And that reason has nothing to do with duck hunting.

I cordially invite you to come to the range with me anytime. If you're expecting a bunch of toothless hill folk at the range, you're going to be sorely disappointed. What you might find are intelligent and competent people from many different socioeconomic backgrounds, races and education levels who are united by the bond that can only be shared by free men and women of this fine country.

Daniel Flory

Graduate student

 

[keeleon]

Not to be a "technology elitist", but I would suggest switching over to the Firefox web browser, if you are currently using Internet Explorer on a PC.

www.getfirefox.com

Alot of the antivirus software has to be very sensitive to catch the stuff that sneaks on to your computer. Alot of times very innocent "webapps", such as cookies, java scripts and active x controllers can set off alarm bells. It is highly unlikely that the Purdue Exponent is trying to install a keylogger onto your system, so I wouldn't be too concerned about it. Installing and using Firefox acts as one more barrier from the bad guys to the important data on your hard drive.

For Your Health!