Gun rights advocates like to point out that the hysteria over “assault rifles” is misplaced. AR-style modern sporting rifles are a lot less likely to be used in a crime than handguns, as statistics reveal. The New York Times (no less) reports that “In 2012, only 322 people were murdered with any kind of rifle, F.B.I. data shows.” The numbers don’t reveal the percentage of MSRs in that total, but you can bet it’s pretty low. Besides, what difference does it make? Traditional hunting rifles are just as deadly as “assault rifles”, as this story [via burlingtonfreepress.com] reveals . . .
A Vermont Department for Children and Families worker was shot and killed in Barre City on Friday afternoon by a mother unhappy with losing custody of her child, city and state officials said.
Lara Sobel died from two gunshot wounds as she left the DCF office at the Barre City Place, 219 North Main St., at about 4:45 p.m., Barre City Police Chief Tim Bombardier said.
The suspect, Jody Herring, was tackled by eyewitnesses and held until police arrived, the chief said.
A rifle with a scope lay under a window of City Place, which houses some state offices. The weapon was described by the chief as a “fairly high caliber hunting rifle.”
It’s fairly clear that gun control advocates’ constant demonization of modern sporting rifles is based entirely on the premise that they look scarier than other types of firearms. Not that any type of firearm should be demonized, but there you go. Over to you Bernie Sanders, the presidential candidate who supports an “assault weapons” ban. For civilians, not police.