While most people mistakenly presume that all assault weapons are rifles, the gun industry also designs and markets assault pistols: which combine the concealability of a handgun with the firepower of an assault weapon. Assault pistols were originally popular in the 1980s, dominated by companies like UZI, MAC, Intratec, and others. They then receded as a class of assault weapon, but are now back as the industry’s latest marketing ploy. And while many of the early assault pistol manufacturers were industry bottom feeders, today they are sold by most major manufacturers, including Ruger, Smith & Wesson, and Beretta.
Second, the assault pistol used in the Shreveport shooting was 22 caliber. Despite its proven ability to kill and maim, the ammunition is wrongly viewed by many as somehow not really being all that lethal because it’s a smaller caliber and commonly used for “plinking” (firing at cans or other targets). This false narrative is actively promoted by pro-gunners, and sometimes acquiesced to by gun violence prevention advocates (for example, flawed assault weapons bans that exempt guns that use .22 ammo with the rationale that that the caliber itself somehow transmogrifies any assault weapon into a “sporting” gun). And because it’s cheaper than most other ammunition, gunmakers today are churning out new assault weapon models chambered in 22 caliber. This includes the Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 model line, which consists of .22 versions of its AR-style M&P assault rifle. In 2022, a standard version of the rifle was used to kill seven and wound 46 at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois.
— Violence Policy Coalition in Report from the NRA’s Annual Meeting: Part Two
Lets put things in perspective about this hand-waving-freekoutery over a .22 in the overall picture:
Death or serious injury or accident or hom*icide by use/involvement of any firearm (of any caliber) – including in any disagreement/argument altercation, including any mas*s/school and active and gan*g-warf*are shooter incidents, including any firearm method sui*side (actual and failed-attempted and attention-seeking), including in criminal acts, including in any accident – collectively accounts for fewer than one percent of all death or serious injury or accident in the United States.
Firearms are far less likely to be used for death or serious injury or accident or hom*icide (or suici*de) than many other non-firearm weapon/things which outnumber firearms use 1,000:1.
[note: the * is to avoid ghost post issue here at SNW]
Just for one demographic: Left wing violence without firearms is far more likely to result in death or serious injury than any firearm is. Heck, just one aspect of left wing violence, trans perpetrator (categories of male>female, female>male, non-binary) violence, enacted by use of hands/feet accounts for more than 700 victims daily across the United States (most victims within or allied with the LGBTQ+ community) (and 87% of trans teens physically assault a ‘trans supportive’ family member in the home at least once a month while living at home, and have physically assaulted classmates at school at least twice during a school year in a public school). In the last three months, nationwide, there have been more than 120,000 acts of left wing perpetrator violence using non-firearm weapons that resulted in ~72,000 victims (8% of the victims died as a result of the left wing violence).
So if the ‘Violence Policy Coalition’ were really about violence they need to be looking elsewhere ’cause firearms are not the problem.
Damn Toyota trying to sell their Camry as a car for “commuting purposes” when just a week ago a “standard version” Camry was used to reach 200MPH!!!!
Do they have no shame?
😂
Historically americans always had a 22 rifle. Because they were cheap to buy and cheap to feed. You had kids you trained them on a 22.
For those that don’t know it. The 22 rifle IS A HUNTING gun. It’s always been a hunting gun. It’s not a glamorous one because it’s a 22. Not like a grown up “mule kicking” 30.06 used by a adult.
The 22 rifle has fed millions of americans who could not afford to buy meat in a store. In mostly rural or semi-rural america. Especially during the depression years.
And the 22 rifle has defended the innocent for many generations. And defended them successfully against all kinds of criminals.
You can get conversion kits for an AR-15. And shoot 22LR ammunition. And save a great deal of money on ammo.
The “gun industry” wants you to buy that large caliber long gun. It’s expensive. And so is the ammunition to feed it.
The gun grabbers just don’t like it. When there is a father in the home. Because that father most likely has guns. They’re most likely 22 caliber. Because that father knows it’s the best gun to introduce to a small child. Less recoil. Less blast.
I think the 22 caliber is the most important caliber. When it comes to defending the second amendment. Because it is a low cost way to introduce the second amendment to everyone.
Criminals and cops are the same. Both don’t want to be shot by a 22. President Reagan was shot with a 22 and almost died.