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Council Passes Weapon Ban(Columbus Ohio assault weapons ban)
www.wbns10tv.com ^ | 4 13 05 | www.wbns10tv.com

Posted on 07/13/2005 2:14:28 PM PDT by freepatriot32

For the third time, Columbus City Council has passed a ban on assault weapons.

Two previous Columbus ordinances addressing the firearms were ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

This new ban passed Monday night prohibits citizens from buying assault weapons within city limits. It also calls for anyone who currently owns an assault weapon to register the weapon within 30 days.

The definition of an assault weapon for the purposes of this ban is any semi-automatic rifle having a detachable magazine and other certain types of features.

Passage of the ban involved several prior public meetings for citizen input, in addition to the normal readings at council meetings.

After all of the debate, some people were left unhappy by the passage, while others are glad that the ban will be in place.

“These weapons can tear through a quarter inch piece of steel. They can shred the police vest. Not only shred the vest, but actually go through the officer and exiting their body," ordinance sponsor, councilman Mike Mentel said.

Others see the step as intrusive and ineffective.

"This kind of legislation won't accomplish what they think… what the goals are for now. It will not control crime. It will not lessen crime," Terence Regan from the People’s Rights Organization said.

There are some exemptions to the law. Police officers, sportsmen and current owners will still be allowed to have the weapons.

There was no immediate indication Monday as to whether the new law would be challenged.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: ban; banglist; billofrights; constitutionlist; council; donutwatch; govwatch; liberty; passes; weapon
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To: freepatriot32

All Democrat city council....but don't you understand it is being done for the good of the community. Liberal do-gooders at their finest.


21 posted on 07/13/2005 5:00:58 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg (May 2, 2006: World's Largest RINO Hunt.....88 counties in Ohio...get 'em!)
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To: billnaz
BTW, what are the STATE gun laws in Ohio? For a long time Tombstone, Arizona had a ban on carrying firearms, dating back to the days when the Earps were town marshals. Arizona has always been an open carry state, so some guys in Tombstone challenged the local ordinance. It turns out that state law (at least in Arizona) trumps a local ordinance. It would seem that if possession of so-called "assault weapons" is legal in Ohio then the city council of Columbus needs to STFU.

Generally, states have overall laws, but cities can have specific laws. Unless a state makes a law that states that all guns are legal, and that no city, county, or municipality shall infringe upon. Then cities generally can make laws prohobiting certain types or all firearms.

The Peoples Republic of Chicago bans handguns, but they're legal in most of the rest of the Socialist State of Illinois. Now the state recently passed a law stating that if somebody shoots somebody in self defense of their lives or property, and the city of residence has a law banning guns, the person cannot be prosecuted by the city, even though the person technically broke the law.

This was in response to a situation that happened about a year ago or so, where someone broke into a home in Highland Park. The same person broke in again the next night, this time the entire family was home. Dad had a gun in the house, illegal in Highland Park, and shot the burglar. The city was originally going to prosecute, until the uproar. The city saw negative publicity they were receiving, and reversed their stand. After that state law makers fast tracked a law protecting residents from this situation.

Its still illegal to own a hand gun in Highland Park or Chicago, but a resident can't be prosecuted for breaking that law in defense of their home.

If state law simply allowed gun ownership, over ruled city laws that banned gun ownership, then federal law, or the second amendment would over rule all.

22 posted on 07/13/2005 7:32:23 PM PDT by mountn man (Everyone brings joy into a room. Some when they enter. Others when they leave)
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To: B.O. Plenty
I often wonder about the intellegence of a "governing body" that would move to disarm people when we are in a war with and enemy that has promised to kill us all.

Its Insane!

23 posted on 07/13/2005 9:15:50 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mountn man

Thanks for the info on Illinois gun laws. Glad I don't live there.


24 posted on 07/13/2005 9:18:20 PM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: billnaz

I haven't had a chance to read the ordinance yet, but from what I understand, the ban in Columbus covers more than just rifles. This is supposedly to include shotguns that hold more than 5 rounds. On the street, I am worried more about sidearms than long guns. The "conceal factor" on rifles is just a little more difficult. Some will say that a person can lay in wait with an "assault" rifle and kill you, therefor the ban makes me safer. I tell these same people that I live in a realist's world and if someone really wants you dead you really can't prevent it.
Also, before I step off the soapbox, Laws and ordinances have never really affected criminals as we all know. If they obeyed these thousands of laws, they wouldn't be criminals.
The carry-concealed law was a step in the right direction for Ohio and it gives ordinary citizens the means to defend themselves against those who use these supposed assault weapons to do bad things...Now lets hope our elected SERVANTS do the right thing and pass a law that prohibits Columbus from banning the weapons that we want.


25 posted on 07/19/2005 6:45:23 AM PDT by Buckeyecop
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To: Buckeyecop

Thanks for the info. And this old soldier thanks you for serving your community as a law enforcement officer.


26 posted on 07/19/2005 7:31:07 AM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: billnaz

Your service to our country exceeds mine. I thank you for that.

I had a chance to catch up on some of the finer points of the ban in Columbus. The shotgun deal was correct (More than 5 rounds). In addition, any gun that has an obvious protruding grip to place the non-trigger hand, a thumb notch or hole, any weapon that has a magazine or clip protruding from the main portion of the gun that has a capacity of more than twenty rounds, compensators, heat baffles, etc. Sounds to me like they are targeting any SKS style weapon, which we all know is not an assault weapon. I don't think they would know what a real assault weapon was if it jumped up and bit 'em in butt. As far as the sidearms go, no more +10 magazines and the like.

If you have time and don't mind the legalise, you can go to:

http://www.columbuscitycouncil.org/assaultweaponban/pdf/1154-2005.pdf

Until elected officials decide they really want to curb gun violence by hammering the bad guys, we're going to see these same type of feel good laws and ordinances passed. What a pathetic state of affairs our country has come to.

BTW, for those of you who don't know, the F.O.P. doesn't represent the mentality of the majority of the line officers. Unfortunately, they have a bigger podium to stand at.


27 posted on 07/19/2005 11:58:54 AM PDT by Buckeyecop
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To: Buckeyecop

So does this mean that all those in Columbus who collect historic military firearms such as the M1 carbine, have to pack up their collections and move out of the city limits? You're gun-savvy, so you know that the carbine can take either a 15-round or 30-round mag. And what does this do to any Class 3 guys in the city limits? Have the military collectors and Class 3 guys already been run out of Columbus?

BTW, does the law address bayonet lugs? Or were those who wrote the law too gun-ignorant to know anything about bayonet lugs?

And what does this do to the guys who own Glocks with hi-cap mags? Make them instant criminals?


28 posted on 07/19/2005 1:11:06 PM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: billnaz

As far as gun-savvy, I know the weapons I use in my course of duties, but am familiar with most types. Just a blue collar stiff;-)

According to the ban, current owners can register their "Assault" weapons and be grandfathered in. However, once the ban actually takes effect (30 days from passage)the owners of these weapons cannot "sell, give, lend or transfer ownership of a registered assault weapon". Also, if you receive said assault weapon as the result of an estate settlement, you must: (1)Remove said weapon from within the city limits; (2)Render the weapon permanently inoperable; or (3)relinquish the weapon to the Division of Police for destruction. There is more to it and it is too in depth to go into here.

The ordinance, as far as I can tell, does not address bayonet or bayonet lugs. I am of the impression they are too ignorant to know what is what or the ban would actually address true assault weapons to begin with.

If, indeed, you are in possession of a hi-cap magazine for your Glock, you had better get rid of it!

The good news so far is that there is a Columbus attorney who is running for council that has filed a suit against the city claiming the ban is unconstitutional. The last two times this has happened the ban has been overturned.


29 posted on 07/22/2005 4:07:00 PM PDT by Buckeyecop
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To: Buckeyecop

Thanks for the info. So "assault weapons" currently owned in Columbus are legal as long as they are registered during the 30 days before the ban takes effect. Looks like the camel has his nose in the tent. I predict that until the ban is overturned and the present members of the government are run out of office there will be moves made to register ALL firearms in Columbus. And of course when all firearms are registered they will know just who has what so they can begin confiscation proceedings.

Sure am glad I live out west. In fact, I spent the weekend at a gun show, and came home with one of those "ugly" guns, you know, bayonet lug and long magazine. I'm sure that at least once during each shift you are dispatched to the scene of a drive-by bayonet charge!

Thanks again for your service in law enforcement.


30 posted on 07/24/2005 7:54:18 AM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: billnaz

Yeah, drive-by bayonets are a bummer...

Luckily, I live east of Columbus, so the ban doesn't affect me, thank God.

Just a funny side note. I was listening to 610 WTVN last evening and heard a great analogy from a caller:

"If we took all the brains on city council and shot them up a gnat's butt, they would bounce around like B.B.'s in a boxcar".

Pretty much sums it up.

Everyone keep fighting the good fight!


31 posted on 07/25/2005 9:35:08 AM PDT by Buckeyecop
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To: freepatriot32

Guns are evil! They kill children! Ban them all!!!!!!


32 posted on 07/25/2005 9:59:07 AM PDT by jjm2111 (99.7 FM Radio Kuwait)
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