Supreme Court allows AR-15 ban in this state
abcnews.go.com
The Supreme Court turned away an appeal by a group of gun-rights advocates seeking to overturn Maryland's ban on AR-15 semi-automatic rifles under the Second Amendment.

The Supreme Court on Monday turned away an appeal by a group of gun rights advocates seeking to overturn Maryland’s ban on assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines under the Second Amendment.

The decision, a major win for gun safety advocates, leaves in place a ruling by the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals which ruled that the state may constitutionally prohibit sale and possession of the weapons.

The state legislation, enacted in 2013 after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, specifically targets the AR-15 – the most popular rifle in America with 20-30 million in circulation. They are legal in 41 of the 50 states.

      • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
        32·
        3 days ago

        Ever been scared in the woods by an animal, or in your home? I have (both) and I’d like to have something more effective than a bolt-action hunting rifle. The marauding pigs meme is pretty funny, but have you ever fucked with a pig? My pig is only 150lbs., but I’d be scared shitless of a sounder coming at me. And I’d annihilate any pigs tearing up my house, which one did, which I shot, and over whom I cry sometimes.

        Speaking of scared in the woods, was trotting along last winter when a black bear crashed across the trail. Cool! And then two black puffballs came galumphing along behind. im_in_danger.meme. Ever seen a hulking and healthy mountain lion on a lonely creek? Look, I wouldn’t shoot anything, not even a cottonmouth, unless in dire straights, but I carry heavier weapons now.

        Can’t find the video ATM, but remember the guy who shot an influencer bully in the mall? He used a .380, barely smaller than a 9mm, guy just shut up and walked away. The asshole was barely bleeding. Imagine an scared animal on your ass. I repeat myself, but I carry heavier weapons now.

        • Greyghoster@aussie.zone
          21·
          2 days ago

          Nothing wrong with a bolt action rifle for dealing with ferals. Coming across feral pigs in the bush is chancy but spraying bullets around indiscriminately is a good way to kill the neighbours. If you need a rifle then that’s what you do however when you are standing in a paddock and hear something whizz by your ear then you hear a rifle crack, then you think too many people like to play with guns.

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      33·
      3 days ago

      No one claims to. The .223/5.56 round isn’t legal in some states because it’s not powerful enough for a clean kill. Hunters use the 30.06 or like round. The AR is meant to incapacitate enemies, while being so stupid easy you can train an 18-yo recruit on it. Also, never jams no matter who filthy and fucked up.

      The AR-15, apart from being fun and easy, is a near military-grade weapon, which Americans have always had access to. I’m told this guy is a right-winger, and the title offends me, but the history lesson is spot on. There goes the “military gun!” argument. And yes, I want a weapon on par with what the fascists are carrying. That was the whole point of the 2A.

      The hunting aspect is a disingenuous take. Bought mine out of fear of a ban, turns out it’s an excellent weapon. Yeah, I said it. Weapon. Always used it for fun, but it’s leaning on my nightstand in case ICE comes for my (legal) brown wife. Or, if a bear wanders in, again, and can’t be scared away. :)

      If anyone thinks fascism in the United States is here already, and I do, think how hard and fast they would be stomping us if we were all unarmed. Notice most ICE raids are in cities with strict gun laws? Plenty of “exception proves the rule” stories, but my eye seems to be catching all the other stories. And I’ll post this again, because it bears repeating.

  • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    44·
    3 days ago

    This sort of thing is always misunderstood. Define AR-15? It’s a rifle with certain characteristics, and even those vary wildly. So what we’re doing is banning certain rifle features, and possibly calibers? Hell, they’re not even legal to hunt with in some states because they’re not powerful enough. (See humorous pic above.) Workarounds for these bans are often hilarious, and never effective, and worse yet, backfire with the electorate.

    For example; Californians can’t have a pistol grip AND a detachable box magazine. OK. So you get weird shit like their “grips” (see for yourself) and 3D-printed mag loaders.

    We’ve had AR-15s since the 60s, but no one gave a shit until they were banned. All this does is cement resolve to buy MORE. Anecdotally, I never gave a shit but bought one after Uvalde when the “BAN” screams reached a crescendo. Turns out, I fucking love it! Democrats sold me a gun I had had no interest in. Good job?

    Anyway, I have some understanding and experience on the subject, so I’ll not rattle on all night, happy to engage in good faith, maybe be proven wrong, or learn something I didn’t know. I’d still vote a gun-grabber D over any R, but this ain’t helping with the single-issue voters or those on the fence. And losing votes for what benefit? Long guns (rifles, shotguns, etc.) are used in 4% of gun deaths, and the AR is a subset of that 4%. Why is no one talking hand gun violence?! (And suicides, about 49% of gun deaths.)

    America doesn’t have a gun problem. America has a culture problem. As teens we used to say, “You can’t legislate morality.” But that doesn’t apply to guns?

    At this point in American history, I’d not propose taking the best multi-purpose weapon away from the people. This crowd clearly sees the manipulation of our media by billionaires, but can’t see how they don’t want you to be able to fight? But you do you.