# What exactly does "semi-automatic" mean in U.S. gun terminology? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876 "2013-01-02T20:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/101 "2013-01-06T21:23:22Z")
**horror** -I’m not a gun expert, so I was viscerally reacting to them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/102 "2013-01-06T21:36:31Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > 1st-The sentence I bolded above CRUSHES _any_ credibility you have in this thread! > 2nd-The list parts I bolded-That’s what law enforcement is for! We don’t don’t need Rambo-wannabes taking the law into there own hands! [Here’s a case](http://www.news9.com/story/16448996/accomplice-charged-in-blanchard-shooting-death) from last year(2011) Young widow home with baby. Two men trying to break in to steal her late husband’s pain pills( He had just died from cancer). She was on the phone with 911 for over 20 minutes as there were only 3 officers to cover 12,000 square miles. She barricaded the door with the sofa but still had to shoot the one who broke in. He was armed with a 12" hunting knife and **his hand was gloved.** What was she supposed to do? Wait and die? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/103 "2013-01-06T21:40:40Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > 2nd-The list parts I bolded-That’s what law enforcement is for! We don’t don’t need Rambo-wannabes taking the law into there own hands! That’s what some think law enforcement is for… Don’t cases like Warren v. District of Columbia establish that law enforcement have no obligation to respond? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/104 "2013-01-06T21:47:21Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > … > the Milwaukee Journal originally reported that he _“then shot her several times in the face with her service **revolver** ”_… The article you linked to says: > [@](#): > > …and then shot her several times in the face with her service weapon, according to the complaint… ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/105 "2013-01-06T22:25:17Z")
> [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > That’s what some think law enforcement is for… > > Don’t cases like Warren v. District of Columbia establish that law enforcement have no obligation to respond? Under what circumstances can LO ignore a call for help? (I’m serious, responding to calls for help is their f-ing job!) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/106 "2013-01-06T22:28:13Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Here’s a case](http://www.news9.com/story/16448996/accomplice-charged-in-blanchard-shooting-death) from last year(2011) > > Young widow home with baby. > Two men trying to break in to steal her late husband’s pain pills( He had just died from cancer). > She was on the phone with 911 for over 20 minutes as there were only 3 officers to cover 12,000 square miles. > She barricaded the door with the sofa but still had to shoot the one who broke in. He was armed with a 12" hunting knife and **his hand was gloved.** > > What was she supposed to do? Wait and die? NOTHING in the link indicates how long it took for the police to arrive! I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe 20 minutes is a regular 911 response time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/107 "2013-01-06T22:38:46Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NOTHING in the link indicates how long it took for the police to arrive! I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe 20 minutes is a regular 911 response time. [This article](http://newsok.com/sarah-mckinley-received-help-14-minutes-after-blanchard-home-invasion-call-911-records-reveal/article/3642339) says it was 14 minutes. When this first happened, 20 minutes was reported. That’s still a fucking long time to wait while someone is breaking in. Maybe you live in an area where police are just around the corner but that’s not the case everywhere. > [@](#): > > Rural sections of the 1,100-square mile county are patrolled by three on-duty sheriff’s deputies at a time, Grady County Sheriff Art Kell said. **Response times to calls are typically 15 to 25 minutes, he said.** In Blanchard, a 33-square mile community, the average response time is 4.8 minutes, Thompson said. McKinley lives on the edge of town. > > The time it took for law enforcement to arrive probably felt like an eternity to McKinley, Thompson said. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/108 "2013-01-06T23:10:34Z")
**pat** -Sorry I’m saying this for the 1st time but, self-defense is a totally legitimate use for a _handgun_. Why is this area (or any area for that matter) patrolled by such a small force? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/109 "2013-01-06T23:17:19Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **pat** -Sorry I’m saying this for the 1st time but, self-defense is a totally legitimate use for a _handgun_. Why is this area (or any area for that matter) patrolled by such a small force? It’s rural Oklahoma. Most likely a small tax base, both in home/property value and sparse population. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/110 "2013-01-06T23:19:03Z")
what’s the typical officer-to-resident ratio? (In US generally) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/111 "2013-01-06T23:26:57Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > what’s the typical officer-to-resident ratio? (In US generally) Using numbers from 2006, 800,000 total officers to about 300 million residents says about 1:400, officer:resident. In general. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/112 "2013-01-06T23:31:23Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NOTHING in the link indicates how long it took for the police to arrive! I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe 20 minutes is a regular 911 response time. Regular, maybe not. But on a busy night in a metro area it sometimes can take well over a half-hour. In many rural counties there there may only be one deputy on at night. If he were on the other side of the county busy with something else when the call came in it could easily be over 20 minutes by the time he arrived. When seconds count police are just minutes away. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/113 "2013-01-07T00:14:16Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Under what circumstances can LO ignore a call for help? (I’m serious, responding to calls for help is their f-ing job!) That’s correct, it is a job. Just another job. There is no civilian job where you can “be forced” to put your life on the line for a paycheck. Did you research Warren v. District of Columbia? PD’s have no legally-enforceable duty to protect any individual. When you see police officers heading TOWARDS the crys for help or the burning building or the sound of gunfire, remember that they are doing it because THEY want to help. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/114 "2013-01-07T00:18:36Z")
**Doorhinge** -So your telling me their oath to protect is selective? They can decide,“I don’t want to help that person today, tough shit!” If that is the case, I weep for America. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/115 "2013-01-07T00:35:03Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **Doorhinge** -So your telling me their oath to protect is selective? They can decide,“I don’t want to help that person today, tough shit!” If that is the case, I weep for America. No, that’s not what I’m telling you. Read Warren v. District of Columbia. PD’s have a job to do. Police officers were hired to protect the public. Police were NOT hired to be killed protecting you or to be killed instead of you. I’m guessing that the police officers in your country are not required to die for you either. Maybe you should weep for yourself, also? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/116 "2013-01-07T00:38:54Z")
[knocking from broomstick downstairs, yelling] What is this the FUCKING PIT? Too much FUCKING CAPITALIZATION and Exclamation Points!! Keep it down. It’s better for all of us. [/knocking from broomstick downstairs, yelling] ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/117 "2013-01-07T00:53:17Z")
**doorhinge** -You sincerely believe police officers shouldn’t have to die in the line of duty if the situation warrants it? :dubious: If not, Why the hell have a police force? Just give everyone over the age of 18 a badge and a gun. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/118 "2013-01-07T01:11:09Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > **doorhinge** -You sincerely believe police officers shouldn’t have to die in the line of duty if the situation warrants it? :dubious: If not, Why the hell have a police force? Just give everyone over the age of 18 a badge and a gun. I don’t believe anyone “should have to die in the line of duty”. If you believe your police “should be required to die in the line of duty”, you’ll have to take it up with your legislature and court system. Police in the U.S. are expected to enforce the laws within their jurisdictions. There is no Constitutional requrement that police officers are expected to die during a traffic stop. ---
**Author:** ![Cheryl44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Cheryl44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheryl44)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/119 "2013-01-07T01:25:06Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > A lot of the public perception of firearms comes from Hollywood action movies. Arnie/Terminator walks into a gun store and gets some off-the-shelf weapons, then he walks outside and starts blazing away with fully automatic fire. There is also the perception that Anyone walks into a situation, and as long as they have a gun, they can blow the perp away, Clint Eastwood-style. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876/120 "2013-01-07T01:40:53Z")
> [@Cheryl44](#): > > There is also the perception that Anyone walks into a situation, and as long as they have a gun, they can blow the perp away, Clint Eastwood-style. that perception seems to be largely on the anti-gun side. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-semi-automatic-mean-in-u-s-gun-terminology/645876.md?page=7)