Why ban barrel shrouds

In the world of modern firearms which use centerfire cartridges , there are two major types of mechanisms used to trigger the cartridge prim Pistols: Derringers. The name "derringer" is often associated with a class of pistols that are small and designed to be carried in a coat pocket, woman Rifling: Manufacturing: Button Rifling.

In our last post, we studied a method of rifling called Broach Rifling. Now we will study another method of rifling called Button Rifling Testing Firearms: Proof Test. The first type of testing we will study is the Proof Test. The idea behind such a test is to verify the strength of the barrel, breech and Critics of the law liked to note that these provisions — like flash suppressors, which try to prevent shooters from being temporarily blinded by the light of the gunshot, or bayonet mounts, or pistol grips — are essentially cosmetic.

That undermined how effective the ban could be. Koper ultimately concluded that the ban had no significant effect on gun crime while it was in effect, though it might have done more given more time. My colleague German Lopez reviewed some more of the evidence and concluded that assault weapons bans are overhyped in their effects and might not accomplish much in terms of reducing violence and deaths.

Between and , according to FBI statistics which rely on police department self-reporting, so caveat emptor , about 70 percent of homicides in the US were committed using firearms. And of firearm homicides, about two-thirds are committed using handguns. Handguns are also the primary guns used in suicides. A s study using data from California found that in 65 percent of male firearm suicides and 88 percent of female firearm suicides, the deceased used a handgun.

A study in Bexar County, Texas including San Antonio , covering suicides from to , found that 78 percent of victims used a handgun. A study in Iowa found lower numbers, which corresponds to the greater popularity of rifles and shotguns in rural states, but also found that as handguns became more popular, their share of suicides increased.

Handguns come in two main forms: revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. Revolvers have multiple chambers usually six, but sometimes five or seven which rotate, or revolve, between shots to place a new round in firing position, while semiautomatic pistols load ammunition from a magazine, which is sometimes detachable.

The terms refer to how much work a trigger pull does. In a single-action gun, pulling the trigger fires a bullet but does not ready the firing pin for the next round. In double-action guns, pulling the trigger cocks the hammer to prepare a round to be fired and fires that round. In practical terms, double action means that the trigger pull takes more effort, as the pull is doing more work. That reduces accuracy but improves safety by reducing the risk of accidental firing.

Double-action-only guns are sometimes popular for concealed carry for that reason. The trend in recent decades has been toward more semiautomatic pistols and fewer revolvers; between and , the share of handguns produced in the US that are semiautomatic grew from 32 percent to 77 percent. Specific regulations on handguns are relatively rare, outside of bans on certain high-capacity handguns under assault weapons bans. These are, once again, largely if not entirely cosmetic distinctions.

DC had, until , a fairly comprehensive ban on all handguns, which the Supreme Court struck down in DC v. Heller as a violation of the Second Amendment. In McDonald v. So handguns are in a strange place: They are both the most important weapons in terms of homicide and suicide deaths and the ones that the Supreme Court has put the most explicit restrictions on in terms of regulation. The barrel shroud has been the target of legislative restrictions in the United States, along with other features of certain firearms.

The now-expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban included a barrel shroud in its list of features for which a semi-automatic pistol could be banned two features in the list were required. Proposals to restore the assault weapons ban, including this provision, have been made but have been unsuccessful. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. The U. Supreme Court previously ruled in District of Columbia vs. Heller that the Second Amendment doesn't just apply to the military; there are protections for individuals, too.

The court found that individual rights can be restricted, particularly when it comes to "weapons of war," but declined to answer basic questions about what that means. The 4th Circuit clearly thinks cosmetics provide a sufficient test to restrict a constitutional right, particularly in the name of public safety. Facebook Twitter Email. Allhands: Court says a gun's looks matter more than its function yes, really.