Originally posted by Miraj
I think it's kind of funny that she thinks a terrorist would go to a gun shop to buy a rifle.
Yeah, those terrorists, always looking to create a paper trail. Im sure they want to take the time to get their weapon registered in new york as well.
John Allen Williams used properly bought weapons. As did Charles Whitman, Lee Oswald or Seung-Hui Cho. And these are just a few examples. You cannot
equal run of the mill criminals to terrorists and serial/mass killers.
A criminal uses his weapon as a tool for personal gain, and it is in his interest never to be caught. Terrorists and other extreme personalities are
emotion driven and function in a very different way, sometimes even expecting or longing to perish in a blazing shootout.
Most terrorist attacks in the western world are carried out by loners and deranged persons. Why do you think you are able to predict their actions and
motifs when they already have crossed all bounds of normal and sensible behaviour?
Secondly, she's a moron. Anyone who understands the .50 BMG knows that it won't take down an airplane without rapid fire. A bolt or even
semi-auto won't put out enough fire power to take a large airplane out.
There are numerous ways one COULD disable aircraft with high powered rifles. They are most vulnerable at takeoff, which is also about the easiest and
most sensible point to strike. Even delusional murderers are capable of figuering THAT out. All it takes is a lucky hit in the right circumstances. A
compelling (non-terroristic) example is Air France Flight 4590, downed by a burst tire.
Plus, that is a really bad rifle for guerilla warfare tactics. Those .50 BMG snipers often weigh 25 pounds at he least but usually over 30.
It's not something you can move quickly with.
Simply shoot from a car or truck. The shooter is concealed, can move inconspicuously and it provides a really comfortable and stable firing platform.
Its not exactly a novel idea.
Either way it seems silly,...
It was also silly to believe someone could use homebrewn explosives to bring down a whole building - but McVeigh did it. It was silly to expect
terrorists to attack a huge warship with a small dinghy - look what happened to the Cole. It was silly to believe ten gunmen would start an attack in
a modern urban center - 500 casualties paid for that in Mumbai. It was silly to believe anyone could take a thousand hostages - the Chechens did it
twice.
Nothing is silly when trying to predict what happens when murderous energy comes together with creativity.
Mind you, I am not pro or con gun restriction in the US. I just wanted to show the dangerous holes in your thoughts.