Reply #143: Automatic weapons were restricted 75 years ago, under the National Firearms Act of 1934.

[benEzra]

Automatic weapons were restricted 75 years ago, under the National Firearms Act of 1934.

The "assault weapon" fraud is about banning the most popular civilian semiautos in America, and doesn't touch a single automatic weapon.

The most recent version was H.R.1022, but it's the same every year.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1022 (click "Full Text" to read it)

All models and variants of the Ruger Mini-14 (photo below) would be banned by name by Section 3.(a)(30)(A)(xviii).


Ruger Mini-14

Section 3.(a)(30)(A) also bans, by name, the M1 Carbine, AR-15's (the most popular centerfire target rifle in America), AR-10's, FAL's and variants, Kel-Tecs, and a bunch of other civilian autoloading rifles and carbines.


AR-15

3.(a)(30)(D)(iii) and 3.(a)(30)(H)(ii) bans all civilian autoloading rifles and shotguns with protruding handgrips or thumbhole target stocks, and rifles with threaded muzzles. That nails a lot of popular autoloading guns that aren't banned by name, a lot of defensive-style shotguns, some hunting guns, etc. That would include the Remington 7400 with a thumbhole target stock and the Browning BAR with a BOSS harmonic damper.


Benelli turkey hunting shotgun, 12-gauge


Browning BAR Mk II Safari Grade, .300 WSSM

3.(a)(30)(H)(iii) bans all civilian autoloading shotguns with detachable magazines.

3.(a)(30)(H)(iv) bans all civilian autoloading shotguns that hold more than 5 shells of any length.

3.(a)(30)(L) bans the SKS, M1 Garand, and other autoloaders that started out as military weapons, unless exempted from the ban by the Attorney General--unlikely, since the VPC labels them "assault weapons," and they are absolutely no different from the M1 carbine, the AR-15, Saigas, etc. that are banned by name. It also bans any autoloading rifle or shotgun that has ever been adopted by any Federal law enforcement agency, unless specifically exempted by the Attorney General. That would also nail a bunch of civilian autoloading shotguns, including a lot of Benellis.


M1 Garand, .30-06


SKS

Again, not a single automatic weapon in the bunch.

It also doesn't just ban "large" magazines; it bans any magazine that holds more than fricking 10 rounds, which turns the clock back to the 1860's as far as civilian firearms go. That is outrageous, considering the most popular centerfire pistols and rifles in America hold 12-30 rounds. Of course, banning or hobbling the most popular civilian guns in America is precisely the point of the legislation.

BTW, your confusion about what the legislation really covers was intentional on the part of the gun-control lobby. From the 1988 Violence Policy Center strategy paper that launched the "assault weapon" fraud:

http://www.vpc.org/studies/awaconc.htm

The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—-anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun--can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons. In addition, few people can envision a practical use for these weapons.

You've been had.