Where do gangs get their assault weapons?

Question

full automatic AK-47's uzi's MAC-10's the US does not manufacture these arms where is the source? i saw a documentary where 3 freight cars were loaded with small arms in a los angeles train depot in the early 80's is this true who put them there?

Answer 1

First off the firearms listed are not "Assault Weapons". By the relevent definition an "Assault Weapon" is a SEMI-AUTOMATIC (1 round/trigger pull) firearm. Second in this context the term "Assault Weapon" is a made-up political term derived from the technical term Assault Rifle, which denotes a rifle firing an intermeadiate caliber round that has automaitic (burst and/or full modes) capabilities. Third the firearms listed are RARELY used in crimes. Fourth the ownership of full auto firearms is regulated by the National Firearms Act & the Firearm Owners' Protection Act. The NFA imposed a $200 tax on the transfer/sale of these firearms, where as the FOPA banned the sale on new ones to non-LE buyers. The sale of automatic firearms manufactured before 1986 is still legal. Contrary to what many gun control proponents would have you believe there are not gangs running around with dozens of automatic weapons mowing down people. In drug infested Miami during the 1980's ~1% of all firearm homicides were with a machine gun. FBI crime stats for 1994 show that only 3% of crimes involving a firearm used a "Saturday Night Special". Now those very few criminals that use true automatic capable firearms obtain them from many different sources including- smugglers/black-market, theft, & straw purchases. Also a full auto firearm is not "more dangerous" simply because it can fire multiple rounds/ trigger pull, in fact hit rates often drop considerably (during Vietnam we expended 1000's of rounds to kill one person using auto fire).

- David

Answer 2

They are shipped in the same way illegal narcotics are, sometimes on the same load!

The gang bangers then purchase these guns from the same people who sell illegal drugs.  No permit needed, no background check, no waiting period.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside every time I want to buy a new gun ... and I jump through the legal hoops like a good little trained doggie!

Answer 3

They get them from gang bangers all over the country.  Those weapons on the freight cars were put there by a guy named Lenny.

Answer 4

they get them from south america and mexico.

Answer 5

smugglers and arms dealers. many countries these weapons are easy to get then they are shipped into the USA via boat train or private plane.   It is just like drug smuggling and is highly illegal

Answer 6

Terrorists

Answer 7

Guns R Us

Answer 8

Smuggled from countries with little or no gun control. In our case, usually they come through Mexico, particularly since most of our gangs are Hispanic.

Answer 9

Mexican Mafia

Answer 10

Just like the want for DRUGS, the want for automatic weapons finds its way to the those who can pay for them!

We need to close, and completely control our Boarders, and all Ports of Entry. We have not the personal needed to do the Job, and I wonder at the lack of interest of Our Politicians.

Answer 11

There are very, extremely few full automatic weapons floating around being used by gangs.

Gang members are more likely to be found carrying a cheap, piece of c**p Saturday night special in .22 rimfire caliber. The lowly .22 (used mostly for target shooting, squirrel hunting, and teaching kids and first time shooters to shoot) is responsible for more civilian gunshot deaths in the US than any other caliber.