Kerry owns an eeeeeeeeeeeevil assault rifle!

[Master of Ossus]

AFAIK, a "communist chinese rifle" could encompass any number of kinds of guns, I'm sure you gun nuts in here can clarify this.

He said it was a "Communist Chinese assault rifle." Whatever it is, if that's actually what he's got then it clearly violates his statements about civilians owning assault weapons, and is potentially even illegal since it may be an automatic weapon if it still functions.

[darthdavid]

Or it could be fucked up to the point where it doesn't fire in which case it doesn't violate his statements because he never said anything about how citizens should be allowed to own a curtain rod with a trigger and a stock, now did he?

[darthdavid]

that should should be a shouldn't...

[Petrosjko]

I'm not an expert to the level of Glocksman, Shep, or others, but given Kerry's lack of accuracy in terminology (typical of the demonization on the AWB debate) he could be referring to a semi-auto SKS or a full auto Chinese AK knockoff.

The SKS not being an assault rifle by the proper definition, whereas a fully automatic AK clone would be.

For the record, I personally am not intimating he is in violation of any laws here, in either case. My point remains that if he is in possession of a either a for-real select-fire assault weapon or a semi-automatic weapon mislabeled by anti-firearms propagandists as an assault weapon, he is guilty of blatant hypocrisy.

Some animals are more equal than others, as it were.

Furthermore, if the matter is clarified to refer to a non-functional weapon, then it's a nonissue altogether.

[Glocksman]

Or it could be fucked up to the point where it doesn't fire in which case it doesn't violate his statements because he never said anything about how citizens should be allowed to own a curtain rod with a trigger and a stock, now did he?

Legally it wouldn't matter one bit if it was fully functional or totally rusted shut. It's still a machine gun[/i] in the eyes of the 1934 NFA and has to be registered and the $200 tax paid unless it's a DEWAT (DEactivated WAr Trophy). If it is a DEWAT, it still has to be registered but is exempt from the tax.

And for a gun to be a legal DEWAT, the ATF has very specific guidelines that you have to follow. Merely being nonfunctional doesn't make a gun deactivated in the eyes of the law.

One of three things is true.

1. Kerry has the gun legally, whether its registered as a DEWAT or a live machine gun.

2. Kerry has the gun illegally regardless of whether or not its functional.

3. Kerry is bullshitting yet again on guns and said rifle only exists in his imagination.

Take your pick.


Personally, I'd like to see a picture of this souvenir rifle.

[Glocksman]

No Assault Rifle for Kerry After All

By JODI WILGOREN

Published: September 27, 2004


Senator John Kerry's campaign said yesterday that Mr. Kerry did not own a Chinese assault rifle, as he was quoted as saying in Outdoor Life magazine, but a single-bolt-action military rifle, blaming aides who filled out the magazine's questionnaire on his behalf for the error.

Michael Meehan, a spokesman for the campaign, said Mr. Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, owns two guns, a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun and the rifle, which Mr. Meehan said Mr. Kerry "keeps as a relic" and had never fired. Mr. Meehan said the gun had no make or model markings on it and that Mr. Kerry "got it from a friend years ago," adding that such rifles were first manufactured in Russia more than 100 years ago and were used by the North Koreans and the Vietcong.

The clarification came in response to an article yesterday in The New York Times quoting Mr. Kerry's response to a question by Outdoor Life: "What is your favorite gun?"

"My favorite gun is the M-16 that saved my life and that of my crew in Vietnam," said Mr. Kerry, a veteran, according to the October issue. "I don't own one of those now, but one of my reminders of my service is a Communist Chinese assault rifle."

Though the comment was presented by Outdoor Life as part of an "exclusive interview with the two presidential candidates," four pages that included many long, conversational answers using first-person pronouns, Mr. Meehan said Mr. Kerry's portions were written by his staff. A public relations representative for Outdoor Life did not respond to a message seeking comment

Hmmm, so Kerry's staff doesn't know the difference between an AK and a Mosin-Nagant bolt action.

[Petrosjko]

Hmmm, so Kerry's staff doesn't know the difference between an AK and a Mosin-Nagant bolt action.

I'm shocked, shocked at the notion of congressional staffers being ignorant on important and meaningful topics, and especially shocked, shocked to find out they're ignorant on the topic of firearms.

But then again, it probably has a bayonet lug, y'know? So it's halfway to being an 'assault rifle'.

[Rogue 9]

They can't tell the difference between a full auto and a bolt action?!?

[Nathan F]

After listening to Bush yesterday and today, I think I'd vote for Hitler over Bush. Both are equally evil, but Hitler's a better public speaker.

You're a fricken looney, too. I really get pissed when people compare Bush to Hitler, or Kerry to Stalin, or any other bollocks such as that.

Shut the hell up already.

[Petrosjko]

They can't tell the difference between a full auto and a bolt action?!?

Under some of their classications, my old SMLE battle rifle is an assault rifle despite being bolt action, by virtue of possessing a bayonet lug and a ten-round detachable box magazine.