“I strongly believe that the right to bear arms is an important safeguard against potential tyranny of government. Historically, maintaining their power over the people is why those in power did not allow public ownership of guns,” Musk told CNBC on May 25.
The billionaire then told the outlet that he supports “tight background checks” for all gun sales and limiting sales of assault weapons to people in special circumstances, like gun range owners, or people who live in a “high risk location, like gang warfare.”
A few hours later, Musk reiterated his position with a very clear tweet:
“Assault rifles should at minimum require a special permit, where the recipient is extremely well vetted imo,” he said on Twitter, responding to a question from a user.
First….A flintlock Musket required close to a minute to load and fire one shot. A modern hi-capacity semi-automatic rifle or carbine, modeled after military assault weapons, with a moderate amount of operator proficiency, can kill one hundred people per minute. A hi-capacity semi-automatic pistol is capable of close to the same performance, though requiring more training and proficiency.
Second…”Well-regulated” means restrictions on who could possess firearms. Weapons that can kill one hundred people per minute should not be available for purchase over the counter to 18 year olds.
Third…The idea that personal firearms can somehow keep a modern military from subjugating the population may have had some validity at the end of the 18th century but has zero validity early in the 21st century.
Ice on the Moon 