"Automatic rifles"

[Jpzum]

One thing I've notices in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris is that news reports are claiming that the terrorists used "automatic" weapons.
But in a cursory review of the news accounts with video, I hear only semi-automatic Fire.

I'm not even sure how important the differentiation is, as all rifles can be deadly.

But I'm annoyed at the mid-categorization of firearms in these news reports.
The fact is, that I haven't heard any burst of machine gun fire in the videos I've seen.

This heinous act is surely tragic. One method of murder isn't any "better" than another.

But still, I don't like it when the media or pundits mis-represent firearms.

[Frisco3Gun]

Of course Jpzum. Almost any major media outlet will try to grab your attention with taglines like "machine guns" or "assault rifles." Why would they take the time to understand it when it seems to draw enough attention already?

[CK_32]

Common misconception.


People don't know the literal terms of many words. Which the media and politicians very well know and pray on their misconceptions to get their agendas pushed and scare the public. Sometimes with out knowing it them selves because they don't know the literal detentions either.

Many people quote my shotguns or rifles are automatic when they really mean "semi- automatic". They think of automatic because of the loading and ejecting mechanism not being manual or self loading.

[Munky]

media + automatic = scary

[Jpzum]

In another event, closer to home, a 12 year old boy was shot and killed by a Cleveland PD officer in a park. The officer was responding to a call about an "armed man". CBS News is reporting that the boy had a "toy pellet gun".
To me, "toy" and "pellet gun" are oxymorons.
The sensational media is obviously aiming at grabbing ratings/circulation, but this is reckless. If the kid had a pellet gun, that's not a toy.
I'm sure the gun came with literature saying so, and anyone under 18 would be prohibited from purchasing the gun.

No. I'm not surprised. I'm upset.

Of course, I've been upset. disgusted.
Any accidental or mistaken loss of life (I'm sure if the officer knew the boy was 12 and knew it was a pellet gun, the boy wouldn't have been killed) is lamentable.
It's sad.
Obviously, an officer is not afforded the benefit of hindsight.
The kid was shot within two seconds of the officer's car coming to a stop.

Its a tradgedy.
There are no "toy pellet guns".
They're weapons. This poor kid should never been allowed access without proper supervision and education.

Sad. A tragedy for the kid and his family. And a tragedy for gun culture.

[bruce381]

50% or more of the populace are morons as in who the hell voted for Obozo?

[Chaos47]

Common misconception.


People don't know the literal terms of many words. Which the media and politicians very well know and pray on their misconceptions to get their agendas pushed and scare the public. Sometimes with out knowing it them selves because they don't know the literal detentions either.

Many people quote my shotguns or rifles are automatic when they really mean "semi- automatic". They think of automatic because of the loading and ejecting mechanism not being manual or self loading.

It's not just uneducated people and the media. The term automatic (more meaning automaticly loading) used to be more common place in the industry too. For example Ruger Standards and MKI are marked as "automatic"



That being said, when it comes to the media:

media + automatic = scary

Pretty much this.

[Garv]

It's not just uneducated people and the media. The term automatic (more meaning automaticly loading) used to be more common place in the industry too. For example Ruger Standards and MKI are marked as "automatic"

I just went and checked my Ruger Standard.
It sure says automatic.
I did not know it shot 9 rounds with one trigger pull!

Have to go to the range now and test it out.

[jl7422]

A few of us still refer to a 1911 as a "45-automatic"

[JDay]

A few of us still refer to a 1911 as a "45-automatic"

Well the ACP in .45 ACP does mean Automatic Colt Pistol.

[Rosereader]

Well the ACP in .45 ACP does mean Automatic Colt Pistol.

Back then it could have well been for either. It was just an autoloading cartridge, but at the time F/A or select fire pistols were pretty common. They often came with detachable stocks, too.

Very cool, legal then, legal* now too.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

It doesn't really matter. "Semi-automatic" sounds scarier than "automatic" to most people because there are more syllables in semi-automatic. "Non-automatic" and "anti-automatic" would scare people just as much.

[Ergo the Qualmed]

If an AK is capable of automatic fire, and yet is employed with the selector set to semi...or if in AUTOMAGIC mode and with only single shots squeezed off...

It's still an automatic rifle, I'd say. Me using the paddle shifters or tiptronic on my automatic transmission do not make it a manual transmission; it's just an auto being used as one would use a manual.