Bill Would Renew Federal Assault Weapons Ban
One bill to revive the assault weapons ban has already been introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D, New York, 4th). McCarthy's Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007, (H.R. 1022), would reenact the ban for ten years.
Along with reinstating federal criminal penalties involving possession or transfer of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, H.R. 1022 would expand the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include semiautomatic-to-fully-automatic conversion kits and any semiautomatic rifle or pistol that accepts a detachable magazine and that has other characteristics of assault weapons, including telescoping stocks, threaded barrels and pistol grips.
Proponents of the reinstatement argue that the number of assault weapons confiscated by police has surged since the end of the ban. Proponents also cite a 1999 National Institute of Justice study showing that murders of police officers by offenders with assault weapons declined from 16 percent of gun murders of police in 1994 and early 1995 to zero percent in the latter half of 1995 to 1996, the first full year the federal assault weapons ban was in effect. However, the same report goes on to state that the total number of such incidents were so rare during the reporting period that the data failed to permit a "reliable assessment" of whether the ban contributed to a general reduction in gun murders of police.
Opponents of the ban's renewal argue that gun crime has not increased substantially since the assault weapons ban expired, and that legally owned assault-type weapons are used for hunting and target practice.
Also See:
Who Cannot Own a Gun in America?
Brady Act Gun Buyer Background Checks
Comments
So let me get this straight, they are used so rarely in crime that a reliable assessement can not be made, and yet that justifies infringing the civil rights of millions of Americans? How about we make it illegal for prohibited possesors to have them, and for people to transfer them to prohibited possessors. Oh wait. It’s already illegal. So making everyone a prohibited possessor solves the problem? This is overbearing infringement of constitutionally protected civil rights.
Leave it to the Idiocrats to try some foolishness like this.
Idiots one and all.
MOLWN LABE!
They ain’t gettin nothin from me! Molon Labe!
The extra article with this one states who may not own a gun. In the article it states “Illegal aliens, or aliens who were admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa” as one such group. Legal aliens with a non-inmigrant visa may own a gun if they get a hunting license according to the BATFE website. Green card holders may own guns without having a hunting license.
The recent theatrics by the PA mayor, police chief and governor regarding the SKS rifle that was used to kill a police officer give pause to any thinking person. They claim this rifle was meant to pierce body armor and has no hunting purpose. They want the assault rifle ban reinstated but do not want legitimate hunting rifles banned. The vast majority of hunting rifles larger than .22 caliber will defeat body armor. A few are chambered for pistol cartages and will not but most use “high power” rounds. The police chief got egg on his face when he called for reinstatement of the “assault weapons ban” without realizing the SKS rifle used in the killing of the police officer was not included in the ban. It uses a non-removable magazine and is reloaded by stripper clips.
The 2nd Amendment isn’t about hunting four-legged critters. It’s about hunting two-legged tyrants who write, vote for and sign ‘assault weapons’ bans.
When guns are outlawed “Liberal” season must begin or we will become like England:
http://tinyurl.com/426gz2
6 — Be careful. The 2nd Amendment does not sanction murder or any other criminal use of firearms. To advocate “hunting” people down in the name of the 2nd amendment only plays into the hands of those who actually would confiscate all privately owned firearms.
7 - Robert.
There is no foul in reminding us of the true purpose of the Second Amendment as
noted in The Federalist Papers.
“Murder” is the unjust killing of humans. Resisting tyrants is not unjust.
And I quote…
“A well regulated MILITIA, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”
Definintion of a militia: –noun 1. a body of citizens enrolled for military service, and called out periodically for drill but serving full time only in emergencies.
The 2nd amendment isn’t for killing “two-legged tyrants” its for the military. So the NRA interpretation of the 2nd amendment is wrong in saying that everyone is allowed to have a firearm. I say instead of banning assult weapons, ban all firearms. Reduce gun crime to zero. Then we wouldn’t have stories like this http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=779143.
Logic has absolutely nothing to do with legislation such as this. When the feds, over decades, have increased the laws to include misdemeanors and restraining orders to keep even more US citizens from exercising their Second Amendment right, and over time increasing the types of firearms and “loading devices” citizens can’t own. And that same federal government won’t allow citizens under 21 to own handguns, but allows them to fight in defense of the very document they, our politicians (which the vast majority are lawyers) routinely contradict with a handgun issued to every soldier, and that same federal government hires ex-felons into our military, LOGIC obviously has NOTHING to do with legislation like this. It has EVERYTHING to do with control! They have all the time in the world to rid us of our firearms… one way, or the other. And they will because of ignorance, apathy, and cowardace which is so prevalent today within this country. America is, and will be, destroyed from within just like our Forefathers warned us would happen. By the way “Bleeding heart,” go down to the library and read/comprehend the definition of the militia as noted in Title 10, Section 311 of the CURRENT US code. You will find the “organized” and “unorganized militia” definitions absolute! As it was during the Revolutionary War; it is today. The government ran military (the organized militia) fought with and adjacent to the citizen’s military (the UNorganized militia)in order to beat the “Red Coats.” This is why, until such time (which will never happen) the government absolutely defines what firearms the citizenry can own/bear WITHOUT “enfringing” on the Second Amendment, they will continue to squeeze the Second Amendment out of existence without AMENDING the Constitution as our Forefather’s originally intended in order to change it! America is sound asleep. Good night! Our children, and future generations will be cursing us for what we’ve allowed to happen, and will continue to allow to happen.
I am tired of hunting being one of the decision making processes when determining whether a weapon has reason to be owned my law abiding citizens. Has anyone heard of target shooting?? Its time we stop slapping laws on law abiding citizens and put all those millions of dollars toward going after the criminals. Criminals don’t care about gun laws; these laws are not stopping them from using a banned weapon. I also collect guns, for example have one rifle that was from WWII. Who has the right to tell me, a law abiding citizen I can’t collect certain types of guns.
When the DC hand gun law ban had passed, gun crime climbed significantly. Thanks for the Supreme Court the citizens of DC again have the right to protect their family, self and home from criminals. Criminals need to understand if they enter a home treating physical harm they may face a lethal response.
One last comment, this is the true interpretation of our second amendment for those who believe gun ownership is limited to, ‘A well regulated MILITIA’. Here is how our Supreme Court defines the wording, ‘on June 26, 2008, The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia’.
The misinterpretation of the wording of, ‘A well regulated MILITIA’, came as a result of copies or the amendment that were made of the original document that had different capitalization and punctuation. Above is the true flavor of its meaning as defined by our Supreme Court.
We already have laws in place to restrict criminals from owning guns, if that worked it would be enough. If they really cared about controlling crime they would do the right thing about illegal immigration, start using manditory minimum sentencing for all violent felons, and dust off those old electric chairs. Guns are useful, murderers aren’t. Every single gun owner I know has too much to loose to do anything stupid with any of their guns. I do most of my shooting at a range. It’s just as much a skill and sport as golf.