Assault Weapons Ban

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) was a subtitle of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law of the United States that included a prohibition on the sale to civilians of certain semi-automatic so called "assault weapons" including military-style semiautomatic rifles derived from assault rifles. There was no legal definition of "assault weapons" prior to its enactment. The ten-year ban was passed by Congress on September 13, 1994 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton the same day. The ban only applied to weapons manufactured after the date of the ban's enactment. It expired on September 13, 2004, as part of the law's sunset provision.

.....

Definition of assault weapon

Note: there are differing definitions of 'assault weapon' that are listed at Assault weapon. This page refers to the usage in the United States under the previous and proposed assault weapon bans. The term "assault weapon" as used in the context of civilian rifles has been attributed to gun-control activist Josh Sugarmann, author of the 1988 book "Assault Weapons and Accessories in America" who wrote:

"Assault weapons—just like armor-piercing bullets, machine guns, and plastic firearms—are a new topic. 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.^"[1][2]

...

Assault weapon refers to firearms that had been developed from earlier fully-automatic firearms into semi-automatic civilian-legal versions. Semi-automatic firearms, when fired, automatically extract the spent casing and load the next round into the chamber, ready to fire again; they do not fire automatically like a machine gun, rather, only 1 shot comes from each trigger pull.

By former U.S. law the legal term assault weapon included certain specific semi-automatic firearm models by name (e.g., Colt AR-15, TEC-9, all non-automatic AK-47s, and Uzis) and other semi-automatic firearms because they possess a minimum set of features from the following list of features:

Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following:

• Folding or telescoping stock
• Pistol grip
• Bayonet mount
• Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
• Grenade launcher (more precisely, a muzzle device which enables the launching or firing of rifle grenades)

Semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and two or more of the following:

• Magazine that attaches outside the pistol grip
• Threaded barrel to attach barrel extender, flash suppressor, handgrip, or suppressor
• Barrel shroud that can be used as a hand-hold
• Unloaded weight of 50 oz (1.4 kg) or more
• A semi-automatic version of an automatic firearm

Semi-automatic shotguns with two or more of the following:

• Folding or telescoping stock
• Pistol grip
• Fixed capacity of more than 5 rounds
• Detachable magazine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Assault_Weapons_Ban

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Assau...Ban#cite_note-1}

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Assault weapon refers to firearms that had been developed from earlier fully-automatic firearms into semi-automatic civilian-legal versions.

you cherry picked that!

from the same link as yours:

Modern usage

The term assault weapon might be derived from confusion with the term assault rifle, itself a translation of the German word Sturmgewehr, literally "storm-rifle". There is no technical military definition of an assault weapon, but in a general sense, the term assault weapon can refer to a military weapon used to aid in military assault operations, that is, attacking a fortified position (as referenced in multiple uses in military terminology below). Legislators and political lobbyists have adopted the term to refer to specific semi-automatic firearms and other firearms listed by specific characteristics for statutory purposes. The legislative usage follows usage by political groups seeking to limit the individual's right to keep and bear arms, who have sought to extend the meaning to include a semi-automatic firearm that is similar in name or appearance to a fully automatic firearm or military weapon. Note that this term is not synonymous with assault rifle, which has an established technical definition. Advocates for the right to keep and bear arms, commonly referred to as gun rights supporters, generally consider these uses of the phrase assault weapon to be pejorative and politically-motivated when used to describe civilian firearms

further education for you:

An assault rifle is a rifle designed for combat, with selective fire (capable of shooting fully automatic and semi automatic). Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies, having largely superseded or supplemented battle rifles (which are similar to assault rifles but are larger and more powerful) such as the FN FAL and the Heckler & Koch G3. Examples of assault rifles include the AK-47, the M16 and the Steyr AUG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle

Edited March 26, 2009 by charles!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Charles,

Here's the current proposal:

H.R.6257

Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Introduced in House)

(31) The term `large capacity ammunition feeding device'--

• • `(A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device manufactured after the date of enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition; but

• • `(B.) does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.'.

.............

DEFINITION OF SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPON- Section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding after paragraph (29) the following:

• `(30) The term `semiautomatic assault weapon' means--

• • `(A) any of the firearms, or copies or duplicates of the firearms in any caliber, known as--

• • • `(i) Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Avtomat Kalashnikovs (all models);

• • • `(ii) Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Galil;

• • • `(iii) Beretta Ar70 (SC-70);

• • • `(iv) Colt AR-15;

• • • `(v) Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC;

• • • `(vi) SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12;

• • • `(vii) Steyr AUG;

• • • `(viii) INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and

• • • `(ix) revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12;

• • `(B.) a semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--

• • • `(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

• • • `(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

• • • `(iii) a bayonet mount;

• • • `(iv) a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and

• • • `(v) a grenade launcher;

• • `© a semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least 2 of--

• • • `(i) an ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

• • • `(ii) a threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;

• • • `(iii) a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

• • • `(iv) a manufactured weight of 50 ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

• • • `(v) a semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; and

• • `(D) a semiautomatic shotgun that has at least 2 of--

• • • `(i) a folding or telescoping stock;

• • • `(ii) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

• • • `(iii) a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds; and

• • • `(iv) an ability to accept a detachable magazine.'.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6257:

[Danno 1,228]

The left knows they are perceived as weak on defense and crime so they use these meaningless

acts of law to pretend "They are cracking down". (while Rome burns)

Of course these bans do, close to zero from preventing crime as anyone who wants to shoot up a shopping center either pays the higher price for an existing model (only new ones are banned) or they choose the next legal model which is functionally not much different.

so what is the point?... oh thats right, politics.

[Nessa 23]

what's the difference, really? do they kill like non assault weapons? why ban it?

[SuperDuper! 230]

The escalation of violence in Border Towns in the US by the powerful Mexican Drug Cartels almost make it necessary to have an assault rifle available when the whip comes down! Anybody who lives near Brownsville, TX can vouch for this.

[john & jean 37]

NO, makes as much difference as closing the gate after the cows get out.....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A gunman at a McDonald's in San Ysidro , California , opens fire with an UZI, killing 21. A drifter in a Stockton Schoolyard kills 5 and wounds 30 with an AK-47. A disgruntled client at the 101 California office building in San Francisco opens fire with two Tec-DC9s, killing 8 and wounding 6.

These shootings demonstrate the fundamental danger assault weapons pose to our society.

[baron555 934]

These shootings demonstrate the fundamental danger assault weapons pose to our society.

All of these weapons most likely were obtained illegally. So you support taking away guns from law abiding citizens knowing that criminals will care less and obtain their weapons illegally as in the past.

If there were some armed (and properly trained and licensed) citizens present at the shootings mentioned, maybe no people would have been killed.

Your arguments are circular and you are proposing that we give up another of our constitutionally given basic rights and freedoms.

Your kind does not know what may be in store as you further give away your rights. Sheep are very afraid of the Wolves and since the Sheepdog looks like a Wolf, you want to drive them away too?

It is like Capturing Wild Pigs.

If you want I will elaborate in a future posting.

Edited March 26, 2009 by baron555

[Nagishkaw 510]

Ban the proposal.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

more of the disarm the populace and more laws. and the laws in place already are ineffective, yet let's have more!

[john & jean 37]

Murder of over twenty people in Witchita Falls Texas is what prompted the concealed carry law in Texas.

[flicker 5]

unless they make it illegal to have an assualt weapon that you already own and for the future it will be a waste of time..most of the shootings i see on the news are thugs with criminal records already and they were useing a stolen weapon ,,since they couldnt get one legally..a couple of months ago a pro football player shot himself in a nightclub while danceing,,,he recieved a slap on the wrist for it,,,i dont get it,,,grhrghrgrhg,,i guess its so , yo yo yo cool to carry one around...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Your arguments are circular and you are proposing that we give up another of our constitutionally given basic rights and freedoms.

You can't build your own nuclear bomb. There are restrictions on explosive devices. The larger question is where do you draw the line between protecting citizens and personal liberties? If you believe the 1st Amendment is absolute, then any weapon should be legal...any. If you agree that some weapons should be illegal - then what is your criteria?

[SuperDuper! 230]

Gun Control means holding your firearm with both hands?