We're Not The Only Country Where This Sort of Thing Happens

[MountainDon]

11 Killed in Finland School Shooting

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/09/23/finnish-shooting.html?ref=rss

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gGJMd71ugtSNgSqJF0u97Se2oNGAD93CNNI00

I noticed that the news here (CBS and NBC) referred to his weapon as an "automatic" which is incorrect. It was a semi-automatic.

Finland ranks in the top five in civilian gun ownership per capita along with the United States, Yemen, Iraq and Switzerland.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Don, this is a little off-topic, but can you explain the difference between an automatic and semi-automatic?  I never really understood what the difference is.

[muldoon]

fully auto, you pull the trigger and hold it pulled and bullets continue to fire. machine guns. 

semi, you must pull the trigger each time you want a bullet to fire.  No no other action is needed except pulling the trigger.  like most pistols you would see on tv. 

bolt/lever action/pump - you pull the trigger then must perform some manual action to re-chamber a new round into position to be fired before you can pull the trigger again.  like most shotguns or hunting rifles. 

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

I've never fired an automatic or semi-automatic then.... thanks for clarifying.