>>>>You can have gun laws (background checks and registration) implemented in just a few months and start seeing results quickly.
>>>
>>>SNIP
>>>
>>>What results would you expect to see?
>>
>>In one year I would expect to see minimal change, so you'd better revamp it to restrict more potential buyers. In another year when the projected results aren't achieved you'd probably have to tweak it again to limit the types of guns that are available for purchase. That didn't work? Those semi-auto rifles and shotguns must be the culprit. That didn't work either? Well, it would be too politically damaging to revert to the way it was, so let's just move the goalposts to make it look like we accomplished something.
>
>I don't see any problem with limiting semi-automatics. Unless you can explain why they have any useful purpose.

Homeland Security obviously needs them - they have to have something to use up 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition:
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/04/25/dhs-denies-ammo-purchases-aimed-at-civilians

Either they are expecting a massive invasion or they plan on spending the next 5 years at the range.... :) In reality, they were probably thinking stockpiling would keep the ammunition out of the hands of civilians :)