Should an 18 year old be able to buy a semi-auto rifle with no training.....?

By some miracle the rest of the free world has managed to accomplish all the things you listed without using a military grade weapon.    And they have the lower mass shooting statisitics to go with.   Common sense prevails when your government isn't bribed to legislate common nonsense.

My god, who is invading your house that requires you to have an AR-15 to effectively protect yourself?  Chuck Norris?   

That aside, many if not most of the people who buy these things buy them for the express purpose of killing other people.

Other than in your warped little mind there is no proof to the statement that 20 million people are planning to kill others.

According to the FBI about 300 people are murdered per year with a long gun.  Almost 11,000 are killed with pistols & 90% of those are illegal guns.

Gosh, I'm impressed that this thread actually did elicit serious replies and relevant debate. 

Being a gun/ammo dummy myself, I truly appreciate the informative posts and opinions without any firing (NPI) of nasties towards other posters.  Yea!

Candy

Just because the vast majority of these warped gun fanatics never actually carry out their fantasies doesn't mean they don't have them. Please explain why anyone needs a weapon that can fire 60 shots a minute to defend himself or his property. In point of fact, an AR 15 is a shitty personal defense weapon because of its bulk and relative inaccuracy. A pistol is much better.

The people who buy these horrible weapons are thinking of mass killing, because that's all those weapons are good for. I realize that the conservitard political gang, bought and paid for by the NRA, continually touts the message that these weapons are for "self-defense," and I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people 

eagerly lap that up. But really--self-defense against what? The zombie apocalypse? Hordes a' dem Messkins floodin' across the border? Dozens of gang members trying to break into your house and steal your baseball card collection?

I agree that the cowardly little shits who buy automatic weapons will probably never use them. That doesn't mean they don't use those GUNZ as masturbatory aids as they fantasize about killing hundreds of black or brown people.

There won't be any such rational debate where it actually counts for anything, sadly, because the GOP has decided to make gun love an indicator of fealty to the cause. One of the ways RepubliQ voters and politicians alike "virtue signal" is by having an absolute screaming fit every time anyone even mentions the tiniest, most minimal, baby-step gun safety measures.

I mean, look at the most recent reactions. 2/3 of the RepubliQ have gotten up and stridently proclaimed that no one will ever ever ever take away our precious Second Amendment blah blah (no matter how many people die), a tiny tiny contingent is mumbling about maybe kinda sorta possibly thinking about considering some limited, modest, temporary restrictions, and the rest are hiding under rocks.

The sad fact is that the ruling party considers all these deaths acceptable, as part of the price we MUST pay. They'd rather live in an abbatoir than a peaceful society.

I agree that the cowardly little shits who buy automatic weapons

can fire 60 shots a minute

Once again TK doesn't know what he is talking about.  Automatic weapons are illegal.

It takes about 5 seconds to point and shoot per round or 12 rounds per minute.  Most of the guns don't even  have a 60 round magazine

The gun can be used for hunting of which there are over 15 million hunters.  It can also be used for target shooting.

The only fantasy on this subject is in your head.

Candy appreciated the fact that this thread had generated sensible discussion without personal attacks or insults, which was true until you came along.

If you approve of the indiscriminate sale of weapons of mass murder, fine 'n dandy. That's part of what you are. A lot of people in this country are like you, which is why the killing will continue. And continue. And continue.

You're living in a gun-fantasy world. It takes a second to point and shoot with a semi.

Your weird defense of using a AR for hunting is demented to say the least.

If you've ever hunted, the one shot is the goal, not riddleing the meat with lead.

as far as target shooting, once again you have no clue.

Target shooters want something hard to use, and cheap.

$50 per 30 round box makes no sense.

It is good to see the posters that try to defend the use of a gun that was made to kill people.

Just to see the mentality of them....

How are these illegal guns getting in the hands of people?

A gun law that varies from state to state?

There was a time when different states had a drinking age.

The states that were next to a lower age had kids going there drinking.And then driving home.

How did that work out? Ever hear of MADD?

Now every state is 21 to drink.

Weak state gun laws need to be eliminated.

That's a start.

Ukraine was free.  Should I go on?