[CaptainMattJ.]

The .223 is roughly the same to a 5.56x45 NATO, which is used in M4 carbines and M16s. I have a .223 cartridge right in front of me, the bullet would be about as long as an average pinkie. The cartridge i have in front of me was fired from a .223 M14, known as a mini-m14 because of the fact that a military issue m14 fires 7.62x51 NATO.

The .223 may be almost identical (some say it's different, but by all that much) to a 5.56 but the .223 was originally designed to take down really big game animals. The .223 offered hunters the ability to take down an animal with less bullets and more force. Hunters are actually vital to ecosystems in some places, where population control over problem species needs to be maintained. Not to mention it's potential uses in extreme law enforcement and security for high risk events such as the olympics. It is in some cases interchangeable with the 5.56mm so it could be used with some 5.56 rifles. the .223 round is considered an assault rifle round, but banning it would cause semi automatic weapons to be affected too.

So yes, even the high powered rifles have a use in civilian hands (security firms are considered civilian in some cases). And i wholesomely believe in the right to own one. And yes, these incidents occur in the few psychotic individuals who get their hands on one, not by the millions of responsible owners around the country.

A ban on high capacity clips seems the only thing that's agreeable. that and the SERIOUS firepower, such as .50 caliber machine guns and grenades/explosives.


As for some of the real problem, it's been hit right on the head earlier in this thread. This country offers almost no support for mental issues. In fact, there are stories of people asking for help with their mentally disabled child and being told "the best case scenario is if your son/daughter/spouse gets incarcerated and put in jail". Budget cuts to mental treatment are SERIOUSLY hurting those who really need the help.