"But it looks scary!"

Within the past few years, members of the anti-gun campaign have locked on to a new target- the so called "black guns". The term "black gun" has come to describe any weapon that has the cosmetic appearance of a modern military weapon. The list of BG's includes AR-15s, AK-47s, FALs, IWI Tavors, and many other firearms that the liberals Anti-Gun activists have deemed much to scary looking for the public to own. These firearms commonly have features such as detachable magazines, pistol grips, adjustable stocks, railed fore-ends, large magazine capacity and other military like features. These weapons are commonly (and mistakenly) called "assault rifles" by the media. The term assault rifle did not exist before 1986. It is a term that was created to make military styled weapons appear more frightening, thereby gaining support in there battle for making them illegal. Lets do a little bit of compare and contrast. In one corner, we have the M1A. The Springfield M1A , based on the M14 platform and operating system, and also firing the same 7.62x51 cartridge, is a common "Black Gun" on the market today. They're great, reliable rifles that can be picked up for around $1,200 dollars at your Local Gun Store. In the other corner, we have the Mini 30. The Ruger Mini 30 was developed by Ruger for use as a ranch rifle on Texas farms. This rifle is also based off of the M14 operating system and fires a 7.62x39 cartridge. In the state of New York, the proverbial mecca of gun control, one of these rifles are illegal with no modifications, and one is legal with no modifications. Let's take a look at our competitors.

Springfield M1A

Ruger Mini 30

These rifles, similar as they appear...... Yea, they're actually really similar. Lets take a look at what makes one legal, and one illegal

• SIMILARITIES
• Both fire a .30 caliber projectile
• Both have magazines with capacities over 10 rounds
• Both are based on the same operating system
• Both are american made

•     DIFFERENCES
• The M1A has a compensator on the end of the barrel
• The Mini 30 looks "less scary"

A Compensator is on the M1A to help deal with the recoil of the .308 7.62x51mm round. It helps reduce recoil, not turn your brand new M1A into a ruthless killing machine. Yet for some reason, this useful modification makes this rifle illegal to own in the state of New York.