nascar33: good comment. My guess is that "automatic" being said by the media means "semi-automatic". Few would own a fully automatic gun since it is not very easy to keep centered on a target.

Gooseye, that just about sums it up.

I chalk up all this AK47 hysteria to 3 things. 1-The negative portrayal of firearms on TV shows and in movies. 2-Misinformation about firearms spread by the media/reporters that know little or nothing about the subject they're writing about. 3-The mentality of the liberal enclave of NC known as the Triangle.

"why would the average family need assault rifles in their home?"

Good question......I like to consider my family somewhat above average, and we have assault rifles in our home. Handguns too. I also am fascinated with the "assault rifle" moniker. Any and every firearm can be construed as an "assault weapon" if it is turned on someone else. Just like an "assault vehicle" can be unleashed on an innocent person by a drunk driver or an "assault club" can be otherwise known as a baseball bat in the wrong hands. We have a lot of sick and twisted people all over this country and we aren't dealing with them as a problem, it's always the inanimate GUN that's the fiend. My family has the ability to level the playing field if my door gets kicked in. Ted Nugent for president!

"Parents should absolutely be charged. The child simply needs to be removed immediately from the home. The guns should have been locked up."

"AMEN, but owning an AK-47 is illegal, I believe. What kind of a parent would have one or think they need one. sigh

One can only imagine the type of home this child was raised in, with at least one parent, maybe both, thinking they needed all these firearms.

Praying for this misguided family and for the child they raised.

God bless.

Rev. RB"

dataclerk and Rev. RB: you two are ridiculous! you don't have your facts straight and everyone can see how you two are so quick to judge innocent people in EVERY SINGLE STORY!! like many have already stated, AK-47's are NOT illegal and aren't inherently dangerous, the story does NOT say the guns weren't locked up, the parents have NOTHING to do with it as far as YOU know, and why should the child be removed? he just needs to be punished for being a stupid kid shooting at a school bus!