In 1964, the US government dumped around a  quarter million M-1 carbine “assault weapons” onto the US market, complete with 15 or 30 round magazines. They were available to anyone who wanted one, no background checks needed, no waiting period; they cost less than $100 for most people, or $20 if you were an NRA member. And what happened? Mass shootings, schools blown to bits, synagogues reduced to bullet sponges? Nope.

Stephen Hunter: The Assault Weapon Massacres of 1964

Access to “weapons of war” was a lot easier then than now. Access to madness is easier now than then.