Chris Brown reports
Reports about the manifesto of accused Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik indicate that he legally obtained the Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle believed to be the primary weapon used in the Utoya youth camp mass shooting. Breivik applied for the gun under the pretense of deer hunting.
In the picture above Breivik holds the Ruger Mini-14, which can accept high-capacity magazines of up to 30 rounds. Breivik also legally obtained a Glock 17, which comes standard with a high-capacity magazine.
Under Federal Assault Weapons Ban in place in the United States between 1994 and 2004, magazines of greater than ten rounds were banned. But as in Norway, they are currently legal in the United States.
Somebody ought to submit the pic to the "People of the Gun" site.
ReplyDeleteIt'd fit right in.
Of course he bought the guns legally. He is the poster child of "Common Sense" gun control: Licensed, registered, background-checked, trained, and crazy.
ReplyDeleteThe Mini-14 is legal in California too. It often gets used as an example of how silly the assault weapons ban is. In standard configuration it is perfectly legal. Swap out the stock for one with a pistol grip and you are going to prison, buddy.
ReplyDeleteI have been perusing Breivik's 'manifesto'; he first tried to purchase an assortment of firearms and other weapons illegally. I found one of his statements particularly telling as it related to our comparative gun regulation:
ReplyDelete"September 2010
I originally wanted to try establishing a connection with Hells Angels in either Prague, Berlin or Copenhagen. However, I lost my motivation completely during my first few days in Prague. I now have to acquire a semi-automatic rifle and glock legally. I don’t think the rifle will be a problem, as I have completed the 1 week duration hunter course, and I have had a Benelli Nova Pump-Action shot gun for 7 years without incident. I don’t have a criminal record so there is no reason why the police should reject my application.
I have now sent an application for a Ruger Mini 14 semi-automatic rifle (5.56). It is the most “army like” rifle allowed in Norway, although it is considered a “poor man’s” AR-15. I envy our European American brothers as the gun laws in Europe sucks ass in comparison.
and
"December and January – Rifle/gun accessories purchased
10 x 30 round magazines - .223 cal at 34 USD per mag. Had to buy through a smaller US supplier (who again ordered from other suppliers) as most suppliers have export limitations."
So, yes, this Norwegian domestic terrorist DID find the gun laws an impediment to what he wanted to do, ditto the limitations on materials that could be used to construct bombs. In fact he was unable to get the equipment he wanted, and had to make due with what he could get. While he did ultimately succeed in circumventing the laws, he was in fear the entire time that those laws would lead to him being discovered, and they may very well have prevented him from accomplishing even more damage than what he did. The number of victims is being revised downward, btw.
http://rosesmerah.com/2011/07/manifesto-anders-behring-breivik/
Dog gone, those same impediments are for the millions of people who don’t murder a bunch of children, but they will criminalize them for owning an AR-15 instead of a “poor man’s AR-15” firing the exact same cartridge.
ReplyDeleteTS: First, millions don't own AR-15s.
ReplyDeleteSecond, so what?
Jade: “First, millions don't own AR-15s.”
ReplyDeleteI’d be surprised if it weren’t millions in the US alone. It is the most popular selling rifle platform in the country.
Jade: “Second, so what?”
Ah, so criminalizing possession of guns with no rhyme or reason is part of the agenda?
"I envy our European American brothers as the gun laws in Europe sucks ass in comparison. "
ReplyDeleteI guess this proves that even a broken clock is right twice a day.
"So, yes, this Norwegian domestic terrorist DID find the gun laws an impediment to what he wanted to do"
ReplyDeleteObviously not too much of an impediment.
We need licensing of all gun owners. One of the requirements would have to be mental health screening and a sort-of may-issue policy from the docs.
ReplyDeleteThat would eliminate some of these nuts, the worst cases maybe.
"We need licensing of all gun owners. One of the requirements would have to be mental health screening and a sort-of may-issue policy from the docs.
ReplyDeleteThat would eliminate some of these nuts, the worst cases maybe."
You mean "may issue" like they have in Norway?
For the point with the 30 round magazines...
ReplyDeleteHigh Capacity Magazine or not it only takes a few seconds to reload the next "legalized" 10 shot magazine ;)