"It doesn't get more deadly than an AK-47"

[ericire12]

More anti gun propaganda being thrown out there by the local media in Illinois:


http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1679703558/It-doesnt-get-more-deadly-than-an-AK-47

'It doesn't get more deadly than an AK-47'
Recent find of two assault rifles enough to alarm Peoria police

By LESLIE FARK
of the Journal Star

PEORIA —

The recent discovery of two rapid-fire, high-powered assault-style rifles in Peoria has alarmed police because they know the devastating punch they pack. And when police are worried, residents ought to be.

"It doesn't get more deadly than an AK-47," Peoria police spokesman Doug Burgess said.

Figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show a marked increase in the number of AK-style weapons traced and entered into the agency's computer database because they had been seized or connected to a crime.

The number of such tracings rose even while the federal assault weapons ban was in effect and has continued to climb since its expiration.

Since 1993, the year before the ban took effect, ATF has recorded a more than sevenfold increase in the guns - which includes the original Russian-made AK-47 and a variety of copycats from around the world. The number of AK-type guns climbed from 1,140 in 1993 to 8,547 last year.

The numbers confirm what is happening here locally with the guns: They're getting into criminals' hands.

"Personally, I know a lot of these guns are out there," said Peoria police Sgt. Doug Theobald, adding officers occasionally find the rifles during raids or arrests. "Most of the time it's regular gun owners that have them in their gun safe. They don't sell drugs or shoot at police.

"The concern is if a criminal has one," he said. "It's not the gun itself, but the person standing behind the gun."

Because the weapon is shoulder-mounted, its accuracy is substantial. The standard bullet, a 7.62x39mm, is highly lethal as it can travel up to 400 meters.

The common AK-47 magazine holds 30 rounds and is flat with a curve in it to allow the bullets to feed properly. Other higher-capacity magazines, some holding twice or triple the normal amount, also can be used.

With such a large magazine attached, the rifle has the capability to "lay down suppressive fire," meaning it can shoot 20-30 high velocity rounds as fast as the gunman can squeeze the trigger, said Theobald.

"(The bullets) can go through brick walls, a car, just about anything," Burgess said. "The penetrating power of the round is unbelievable."

Police have reported finding the rounds inside the former Warner Homes public housing complex after they blew through the exterior brick wall. Two years ago at Landmark Apartments, eight bullet holes were found in an apartment. Shell casings found outside the apartment matched bullets used in an AK-47 assault rifle.

Another example of the gun's packing-power is in the 1999 homicide of Marcus Risby. Charles Childs fired an Egyptian-made AK-47 rifle 30 times into a house on Garfield Avenue. His best friend, Risby, was killed by one of the bullets as he stood outside the front of the house, as part of a plan to get revenge on the home's occupant. The bullet went all the way through the house to kill him.

When faced with criminals armed with these kinds of weapons, Peoria police are equipped with higher-powered guns to match the threat.

"We have the capacity of going against weapons systems like that," said Theobald, who oversees the department's Special Response Team, whose members are trained and certified to use fully-automatic, military-style assault rifles.

"The concern for the public is the same as for police," Theobald said. "These bullets will keep traveling and go through cars and houses, regardless of what the intended target was for the bad guy. They can hit innocent bystanders."

I love how the author sources Wikipedia in the aside info about the ammo/weapon. Wikipedia? Wikipedia? Really? Where did this clown go to journalism school?

-------->Leslie Fark can be reached at (309) 686-3188 or lfark@pjstar.com.

Ken Mauser
publisher
kmauser@pjstar.com
309-686-3005

[cooptire]

I love how the author sources Wikipedia in the aside info about the ammo/weapon. Wikipedia? Wikipedia? Really? Where did this clown go to journalism school?

Sounds like the way they teach it know. When I was in college, a university with a "renowned" journalism school, a prof was overheard to say to students "...remember, your job is to make the news."

Oh really? I thought their job was to REPORT the news, not make it.!

[Hazcat]

At least most of the comments are positive.

[runstowin]

love how the author sources Wikipedia in the aside info about the ammo/weapon. Wikipedia? Wikipedia? Really? Where did this clown go to journalism school?

I checked it out, here is the answer.
Lla Mayoría de la Mejor Escuela del Periodismo, Tijuana, Mexico.
Translated: Most Best School of Journalism. Graduated with honors after three long grueling weeks of sitting in the sun drinking pina coladas.

Given the information in the article, we the people need at the very least, equal  firepower as the BGs.

[tt11758]

At least the cop was quoted as saying that it isn't the gun, or the ownership of the gun by honest citizens that is the problem.  I'm surprised THAT little quote made it into the story!!

Another example of the gun's packing-power is in the 1999 homicide of Marcus Risby. Charles Childs fired an Egyptian-made AK-47 rifle 30 times into a house on Garfield Avenue. His best friend, Risby, was killed by one of the bullets as he stood outside the front of the house, as part of a plan to get revenge on the home's occupant. The bullet went all the way through the house to kill him.

One asshole kills another asshole.  And the problem would be...............................?

[Sponsor]

[cooptire]

Because it was his best friend!  How callous can you be? He still had other revenge hits to make that night and now he had to do it alone. How many other gang bangers could have been gone that night if not for the horrible power of that round and its whole house/whole car/whole gang house penetrating power?

[ericire12]

One asshole kills another asshole.  And the problem would be...............................?

That idiot was just pointing it out to show how deadly those "magic bullets" are.

Another fine example of this clown's highly refined journalism skills....... So, the guy who was killed was standing BEHIND his house when the bullet traveled "all the way through the house to kill him"? Or, maybe the guy was upstairs asleep in his bed and the bullet came in the front door and searched "all the way through the house" room by room...... it went up the stairs took a left.... went down the hall.... went into his bedroom, found him laying there and killed him.

I think maybe he was trying to say that the bullet went INTO his house. 

Hmmm..... no mention of if this "magic bullet" traveled through actual brick and mortar or just broke through a window. I guess gang bangers cant afford bullet proof glass like the rest of us, or maybe it was bullet proof glass...... Damn those all powerful 7.62x39s..... No one is safe from their carnage! Not even gang bangers behind bullet proof glass.

weapons systems like that..... fully-automatic, military-style assault rifles.

More ignorance wrapped up in journalist = intellectual superiority.




I think the bottom line here and what that blatantly biased idiot meant to say was.....

GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL! GUNS ARE EVIL......

[ericire12]

The number of such tracings rose even while the federal assault weapons ban was in effect

Oops.... Shot yourself in the leg on that one -- Sorry Plaxico!

[tt11758]

maybe the guy was upstairs asleep in his bed and the bullet came in the front door and searched "all the way through the house" room by room...... it went up the stairs took a left.... went down the hall.... went into his bedroom, found him laying there and killed him.

Let's ban that nasty "search and destroy" ammunition!!  

[ericire12]

Let's ban that nasty "search and destroy" ammunition!!  

NO!

If you give them an inch.....