Gun advocates question whether President’s proposals will make a difference

Firing back!

That’s what the owner of a firearms and tactical training facility on the outskirts of El Paso is doing in the wake of the President’s new initiatives on gun control.

The president wants Congress to ban military style rifles and 30-round magazines.

ABC-7 went out to Tactical Ranch near Hueco Tanks State Park to speak with retired Army special forces veteran Tom Buchino about the proposals. Buchino agreed with some of the President’s initiatives, like stricter background checks and investing more in mental health for young people. But he doesn’t think banning assault weapons or limiting bullets in a magazine will make much of a difference.

“In reference to the President’s initiatives on improving the background investigations, from a business standpoint, we have no issues with that,” Buchino said. “Obviously if we can do a better job of vetting the individual purchasing a firearm, pistol, shotgun or rifle, we’re for that.”

But Buchino does have an issue with the President’s attempt to ban so-called assault weapons.

“Maybe the correct term should be defense rifle or sport rifle versus an assault rifle,” Buchino said. “Nobody buys them with the intent to assault people.”

He also said limiting the number of bullets in a magazine from 30 to 10 won’t make much of a difference. He even staged a demonstration for ABC-7 firing a 30 round magazine from a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and three 10 round magazines equalling 30 rounds.

It took about eight seconds, even with a malfunction, to fire 30 rounds from one magazine. To fire 30 rounds from three 10-round magazines it took about 16 seconds, a difference of only eight seconds.

In summary, Buchino said he thinks, instead of prohibiting 30-round magazines and certain weapons that resemble, but don’t function like military rifles, the President should concentrate on things that will have a greater impact than just buying an additional eight seconds.