I was always under the impression that the easiest way to obtain fully automatic weaponry was to go to gun shows and simply pick one up (look for the "Free Stinger Missile with Every Grenade Launcher" sign). We are told over and over and over how easy military grade weaponry is to obtain.
Seems like some wannabe terrorists didn't get that memo
Mehanna had “multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people in shopping malls,” Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Loucks said. Prosecutors would not say which malls had been targeted. … The mall plan was abandoned after the men failed to track down automatic weapons, Loucks said.
Mehanna had “multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people in shopping malls,” Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Loucks said. Prosecutors would not say which malls had been targeted.
…
The mall plan was abandoned after the men failed to track down automatic weapons, Loucks said.
Now, they may not name the malls, but I guaran-frickin-tee you that the short list included malls with "No Guns Allowed" signs. Killing a lot of people is difficult if some of those people shoot back.
Another thing to remember is that automatic weaponry is good for laying down suppressive fire and generally miserable at large scale death and dismemberment. Hand held automatic weaponry generally excels at ventilating ceiling tiles and emptying the magazine in seconds – something also not conducive to mass slaughter. Unless you're talking setting up a fixed position with a belt fed gun and then corral people into your line of fire, you're simply not going to kill in any large numbers.
Glad to know that the terrorists are as dumb about weaponry as the Brady Campaign and Violence Policy Center are.