[Born Conservative]

I look at the assault weapons ban kind of like the teacher you had in grade school who, after getting hit in the back of the head with a spit ball, made the entire class stay after school.

The AWB isn't about punishing the "entire class"; rather, it's an attempt to incrementally make ALL firearms illegal (but it probably won't work out the way Feinstein and her gang had planned; hopefully, it will sunset). Banning a weapon based on it's looks is just plain stoopid.

[Alas Babylon!]

It's not illegal to own these weapons or detachable large-capacity magazines, it's just illegal to produce or import them. Existing stocks could still be used and sold by owners.

Also, take a look at the story about the 16 year old who killed a cop and himself with an "assault weapon". If this makes the Chief in favor of the ban, I would ask him why. The kid used this during the time the ban was in effect. Extending the already in place ban wouldn't have kept the gun from that kid. Some criminals use machnie guns, or are felons who cannot possess a gun yet do so. Those bans don't seem to phase them, just law abiding folks like his neighbor.