For those that play down the existence of gangs....... (Pittsburgh: attorney, house)

[hinsey86]

Originally Posted by vwscottie

I agree with you, but there are a few users on this discussion forum who play down the presence of gangs in Pittsburgh. That crime wasn't commited by a small time player.

I don't know how familiar you really are with the criminal element but that incident could really have been a small time player. I work closely with individuals who are involved in the drug activity in the city and having an automatic weapon (as well as driving around with it on ones lap) is not uncommon. Most crime is individual drug dealers and mostly small time at that. I am not saying there is no gang activity but I would never call it organized here. (at least compared to other cities I have lived in.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by zip95

Exactly!!! Some one shoot an AK-47....therefore we have unequivical proof of gangs.

That's the most logically air-tight statement I've ever read on these boards....

Just like a young guy attempts to kill his ex girlfriend and himself, and all of a sudden, the area they both live in is in decline, right?

[guylocke]

The bad guys will find a way to get guns, regardless of who is in office.

It's not the bad guys on the streets who allowed the legality of purchasing semi-automatic weapons.

Just because they MAY be able to get them certainly doesn't mean we should encourage it or make it easier to purchase deadly weapons.

And don't give me the amendment crap, you DO NOT need an AK-47 to protect your family.

[vwscottie]

Originally Posted by guylocke

This one stray article certainly doesn't prove that untrue, either.

I'm surprised that Mr Riverside Parc, know everything about Pittsburgh doesn't realize it's more than just a stray article, and that it's been a week long of violence like this for that particular neighborhood, and it caps a number of months throughout the late fall and winter of problems in the north side neighborhoods.

[guylocke]

I'm surprised that Mr Riverside Parc, know everything about Pittsburgh doesn't realize it's more than just a stray article, and that it's been a week long of violence like this for that particular neighborhood, and it caps a number of months throughout the late fall and winter of problems in the north side neighborhoods.

Not to downplay the matter, because it's tragic, but a week long string of violence?

WOW!!

That's insane!!

Tell that to the cities that have horrible, unchecked, and severe gang violence for YEARS upon YEARS. And I'm definitely not talking about cities that are much bigger than Pittsburgh.

You will NEVER on gods green earth convince me that Pittsburgh has a "GANG" problem other than the normal gang riffraff that any semi-large city might have.

[Pitts10yrs]

Just some firearms education...the gun used was more than likely a Chinese SKS rifle, not an AK-47. Though the fire the same caliber bullet, they are two different guns. SKS is a semi-automatic rifle that looks quite frightening in appearance, but there are many, sad to say, more powerful and capable guns available. SKS Rifles were plentiful about 15 years ago, cost as little as $80 each. So there are many out there.

[*Danielle*]

Yeah, AK-47's are bad news. We live in Detroit and that is pretty much what all gangsters here have...Frightning...We have reports like this everyday...usually several...


Gangs are everywhere...or will be shortly.

AK-47's are assult riffles and they are illegal...

[johnnytang24]

The misinformation in this thread is amazing.

First off, semi-automatic rifles have never been banned in the USA. The only AK-47 rifles in the USA are semi-automatic. Fully automatic rifles have been regulated since 1968 and no new automatic rifles are legally sold in the USA.

AK-47's have also never been banned. Certain things were restricted, such as the number of rounds of ammo in one magazine, bayonet lug (because of all the vicious bayonetting?), and other cosmetic items. You could, during the Clinton administration, legally buy an AK-47 (semi-automatic). You can go to Dunham's or any gun store today and buy an AK-47 clone.

If you define an assault rifle as a rifle that shoots more than one round with each depression of the trigger, than no, the AK-47 is not an assault rifle. Each pull of the trigger shoots one bullet. Same as any other gun.

The only difference between an AK-47 (as available in the USA) and your dad's hunting rifle is that the AK-47 is LESS powerful, and the way they look.

[*Danielle*]

I don't know much about guns...but when my hubby rotated throught the medical examiners in the city of Detroit...the homicide investigators told him that the AK-47's that are commonly used in gang shootings (in this city) are those of military caliber and are absolutely illegal...These are automatic riffles.

Anyway, it doesn't matter...

[suzeeq521]

The way I understand it is these types of guns are sold as semi-auto, which are legal.

However, they are then modified to fully-auto, which then makes them illegal. And that the mods are pretty simple if you know what you are doing.

They may be common to gangs, however, they are not exclusive to gangs. I know of two people who owned these types of weapons (at least one with the modifications done) and neither were gang members. Both were no good losers - which can be seen by the fact one is dead and the other is in jail - but they weren't gang members.

(Before it is questioned how I knew them - one was a co-worker of some friends of mine, boy were they glad when he quit, and the other was the boyfriend of an old friend from high school. Her and I weren't in close contact after finishing school, but occasional, and that was enough to know why I didn't want to be closer with her again.)