"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.
That would be a semi-automatic weapon. The term automatic is generally
considered to mean fully-automatic.
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