JAX, by your defination "automatic" weapons have never been banned, and for
the record neither has fully automatic weapons (machine guns).
Yes, there is a $250.00 yearly fee to own one and a lot of scrutiny...but
the fact remains there are more FULLY automatic weapons in civilian hands
than there are in both law enforcment and military combined. And they are
legal.
The gun people use "semi-automatic" to define guns that are self loaders,
but have a disconect sear so that the trigger must be released before the
next cartrige will fire. They use "automatic" to define a self loading gun
that automatically fires the next round until the trigger is released.

But this is off the subject, the question was if a flare gun is a weapon.

Eric

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
eric, be careful with your use of terms. "automatic" rifles and pistols
are in
common usage by civilians, but the word automatic used in that context
means
the weapon chambers another round and cocks the gun "automatically" after
each
fired round.

However "fully automatic" (which keep firing as long as the trigger is
pulled,
and means "machine guns" to most people) are not much represented in the
civilian population (there is a $250 yearly fee involved, and a lot of
scrutiny
by law enforcement at all levels). machine guns are far and away more
common
in the military.

many of the "assault weapons" forbidden under the old law were legally
sold to
civilians once the magazines and flash suppressors were removed. same
firing
power but you don't look as cool to your buddies and you can't fire but
maybe
six (?) rounds before reloading (as opposed to 18 to 30 with a magazine
fed
weapon) and reloading is slower. big deal.

"Eric Currier"
Date: 10/15/2004 1:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: EyJbd.61530$tU4.19280@okepread06

Automatic weapons are NOT illegal, and have not been for many years, with
proper paperwork and fees not only can a law abiding citizen own an
automatic weapon, but the fact of the matter is there are more automatic
weapons in private hands than there are in both law enforcment and
military
hands.
The other fact of the matter is the "assualt weapon" ban was a useless
piece
of legislation and anyone who believes it's demise will cause machine gun
toting criminals to overrun our streets is someone who does not
understand
guns, and gets all thier information from the liberal media.

As for the question on the flare pistol, why post a question here? write
to
the company that makes the flare pistol and get the truth from the people
who know exactllay what laws apply and how they apply...it's thier
livelyhood.

Eric

"Keith" wrote in message
...
Automatic weapons have been illegal for years, and still are for the
general
public. The term "assualt weapon" is poorly defined, and was just made
up
to
ban a few rifles that "looked bad". GWB didn't do anything... the bill
banning those "assualt weapons" hit it's sunset date, and ended without
congress trying to re-enact it. At least they had some sense.

Your misconceptions are just what the anti-gun lobby wants. Sorry you
fell
for it.

--


Keith
__
A 'good' return to your slip is one from which you can walk away. A
'great'
return is one after which they can use the boat again.

"Lauri Tarkkonen" wrote in message

Of course a flare pistol is not a very efficient weapon if killing
the
other person is the only option. I understand why GWB has to free the
sales of automatic assault rifles. You really seems to need them.

- Lauri Tarkkonen