That “high-powered” weapon used to kill 13 persons and wound several others Friday in New York probably isn’t a garden-variety hunting rifle.
It’s likely a foreign-made assault rifle with a large magazine, still easily purchased anywhere in the United States.
The killer, reportedly a Vietnamese refugee, killed himself after the murder spree in the immigration service center of upstate Binghamton.
According to police, most of the victims were killed execution-style with shots to the back of their heads. Some 40 hostages were released in groups by the gunman shortly before he committed suicide.
If the weapon actually does turn out to be an assault rifle, no one can claim if didn’t do what it was designed to accomplish: mass slaughter.
There now are 13 more reasons why assault weapons, useless for hunting or any other legitimate reason, should once again be banned in America. (5 APRIL 2009)
