Republicans rush to surrender to That One

I read this, at The Arsenal, by way of The Jawa Report;

H.R. 6257: Assault Weapons Ban Reauthorization Act of 2008
To reinstate the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act.

Who:

Sponsor:
Rep. Mark Kirk [R-IL]
Cosponsors [as of 2008-11-07]
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL]
Rep. Michael Ferguson [R-NJ]
Rep. Christopher Shays [R-CT]
Rep. Michael Castle [R-DE]

It’s the same kind of crap we saw from the same bunch of idiots after the Republicans lost Congress in 2006 – mass defections to gain favor with their new overlords. All they’re doing making themselves feel good, anyway. Here’s the definition of an “assault weapon” according to the bill;

(b) 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;
‘(C) 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.’.

Mostly it all refers to the appearance of the weapon rather than the firing mechanics – typical feel good poltiics. Keeping people safe by making the weapons look more appealing or rather less ugly.

I own a Ranch Model Mini-14, I’ve owned it for twenty-four years and despite the fact that it has a flash suppressor, a pistol grip stock, several detachable 35-round magazines and about 500 rounds of ammunition, in the twenty-four years I’ve owned it, I’ve never committed a crime with it – nor have I been tempted to commit a crime with it.

During the Clinton era ban, it was easily skirted by ordering parts from different stores (since the ban identifies the weapons as assault weapons by have 2 of the characteristics in the categories above) so all the ban did was make the people who passed it feel good and it got the camel’s nose under the tent for more legislation. And now some Republicans eager to gain favor with gun-grabbing Democrats are using it to show how spineless we are in defeat.

Category: Liberals suck