No- I agree- right at the top of the list-like your comment. Person below that said you are stupid is rude and possibly ill informned. Obviously the current laws are not working, because private citizens are getting ahold of these weapons despite the ban!

taking away rights and guns of the law abiding citizens gives the criminal element free reign . criminals don't care about laws

automatic weapons are ALREADY banned to all but military and law enforcement. this goes to show the lack of information the country is facing.

I consistently read , "Ban automatic weapons for only law enforcement and the military." People they are banned only to them with the ONLY exception of fully licensed and credited collectors with a Class III Federal Firearms License. The media keeps on selling to the public and the public keeps on buying that you can just go out to a gun store and buy a fully automatic firearm... YOU CANNOT! This has been law since the 1930's thanks to Prohibition and the gangs using automatic firearms to keep their profits high. Am I incensed about the little children? You bet I am. But before we get into discussions people need to get their facts and terminology correct and put emotions on hold and DON"T believe everything the media spouts is gospel!!!!

Frank your just another uneducated limp wrist lib. Please go back and get your GED.

Fact 1: The AR-15 used in in recent school shooting was not an automatic weapon. Fact 2: Automatic weapons are indeed legal to own. I have one, and went through the extensive FBI background check to obtain it. Fact 3: since 1932, there have only been two reported murders with automatic weapons, one of which was by a police officer who killed an informant, and both of which were in Ohio.

Automatic weapons are banned in all but very rare cases for civilians. Also, making these weapons available only to the military and law enforcement is totally contradictory to why we have the right to own guns to begin with. This idea that the willfully ignorant have that we only have the right to own a gun for hunting and maybe home protection is erroneous and damaging to our sense of rights and liberty. Please review the second amendment of our constitution.

What about psyche tests? Are people evaluated by a psychiatrist before they purchase guns? Is their medical history such as what medications they are on or history of depression shown before purchase? Do gun owners have to renew their license ever year? Do they have to pay a gun insurance? I'm not a gun owner so I was just interested in what steps people have to take to buy a gun. I think it's different depending on state too.

Stop picking on Frank. Call them what you want but there is no need for the common public to have guns that kill a mass amount of people at a time. Guns for hunting, great. Guns to protect an intruder, great. Guns to kill mass numbers at once, not needed. Does anyone ask why the Hell his mother had these kinds of weapons or any for that matter readily available to a "mentally challenged" individual?

There is a difference between automatic and semi automatic weapons. Automatic means the weapon fires repeatedly until the trigger is released or ammunition runs out. Semi auto requires the trigger to be pulled every time you want to discharge a round. Automatic weapons are basically ban from general public use.

All Automatic weapons are already banned.
People need to take responabilty for there actions.
Its not the guns its the people.
If anyone remembers Colombine happened during the previous assault weapons ban.
911 happened with box cutters.
The worst school killing happened in Japan with a machete.

Ban all automatic weapons. Hand guns are not needed for anyone. Only the police. We have to come to our senses. This is not a 2nd amendment issue. This is a morality issue.

If they are banned why would the police and military require them?

Everone should be responsible for their actions and punished accordingly.Also in a reasonably time.
That would deter some of these crimes.Guns or not culprit.
Jeff

It is illegal to own an automatic weapon without a permit from the ATF. Get your facts before you post.

Let's ban violent movies and video games and clean up some lyrics first. Aurora shooter dressed as the Joker and killed. Bet this last poor soul played more violent video games than took target practice. Wake up folks...it's the violence in our culture, not just the guns. Where is the out cry from politicans to do something about Hollywood and X-boxes!

It's been done before many times - Germany 1937-1945 is a good example. The results can be found in any history book. I suggest you pick one up sometime.

Your committee states "This isn't about ideology -- it is about reducing the number of mass murders,". Who does the AOL staff think they are kidding?

Ban criminals, everyone keeps blaming guns when the the average prison stay for a murderer is 5 years then he or she is released, how about this instead, you kill someone with a gun your put to death no questions asked, if you take a life you should expect to loose yours, that will put a damper on gun crime and clean up our streets

Automatic weapons ARE banned and have been since the 1930s. You have no knowledge of the subject obviously, nad simply repeat what the media spouts without doing any research.