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from the founding-fathers-didn't-have-tazers dept.
Massachusetts' ban on the private possession of stun guns—an "electrical weapon" under the statute—does not violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms, the state's top court has ruled.
The decision says ( http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/stungunMA-ruling.pdf ) (PDF) that the US Constitution's framers never envisioned the modern stun-gun device, first patented in 1972. The top court said stun guns are not suitable for military use, and that it did not matter whether state lawmakers have approved the possession of handguns outside the home.The court, ruling in the case of a Massachusetts woman caught with stun gun, said the stun gun is a "thoroughly modern invention" not protected by the Second Amendment, although handguns are protected.
(Score: 2) by Kromagv0 on Tuesday March 10 2015, @04:11PM
Speaking to the belief that the automatic weapons the drug cartels are using originated from legal US purchases. The thing is that those firearms that were bought in the US and used to kill Mexicans were all legal hunting and sporting firearms when they were purchased in the US. Despite what the law says it really isn't difficult to turn a semi auto AK type weapon into one that can fire semi auto or fully auto as well. I don't know about the AR type weapons as I have never looked at one in any detail but I would imagine that a similar hack would be possible. Granted this would require fabricating some new metal to attach but anyone who has any skill in metal working could do it easily. I highly doubt that someone would go through the effort to purchase an exceedingly expensive fully automatic weapon, with the background check and fingerprinting, only to hand it over to some Mexican drug cartel. Seems like a really quick and easy way to end up in prison as those are tracked very closely.
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(Score: 2) by Spook brat on Tuesday March 10 2015, @05:16PM
. . . it really isn't difficult to turn a semi auto AK type weapon into one that can fire semi auto or fully auto as well. I don't know about the AR type weapons as I have never looked at one in any detail but I would imagine that a similar hack would be possible. Granted this would require fabricating some new metal to attach but anyone who has any skill in metal working could do it easily.
You are correct. Most civilian gunsmiths could make the conversion given the appropriate plans for the parts, resulting in a permanently full-auto rifle. In practice, people do exactly what you suggest: there are a couple of ways to add aftermarket components to the firing mechanism. The new parts trick the firing mechanism into thinking you released pressure from the trigger after firing, making the rifle effectively full-auto. At least one of these methods is easily removed and hidden, making proof of the violation tricky (compared to a permanent modification, anyhow).
Friendly reminder: performing these conversions makes you a felon, and the BATF takes keen interest in prosecuting violators. Please don't be stupid.
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(Score: 2) by Kromagv0 on Tuesday March 10 2015, @06:19PM
While I did figure out how to modify an AK type weapon in fairly short order (can a semi-auto firearm get much simpler than one of these?) you are correct in that one would be a fool to actually proceed with any such modifications for the exact reasons you cite. My impression of the AK was that it wouldn't even take a skilled gunsmith just someone who can use a hacksaw and files to fabricate something of reasonable quality. The modification I thought of would not have been permanent so the fact that others have likely had similar thoughts and implemented them shouldn't be a surprise. Also full auto is good for expending copious amounts of ammo but not much else. Granted with an AK that would only come out to about $7 per 30 round mag but that still gets expensive quick. Then again I am someone who follows the law and if I get a desire to waste some money one of the gun ranges nearby well rent you one and you don't have to deal with acquiring (legal or otherwise) and maintaining the thing either.
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