As I remember it.
And to think, in 1962 Thomas J Dodd and Emaual Cellar proposed the first federal law on common firearms.
1962; “We don’t want to take away your guns, we ONLY want to register handguns! Rifles and shotguns will not be affected”.
1964: “We only want to register all your guns, not ban them! Only Army surplus guns will be banned.”
1968: “We only want to register your guns, and ban “Saturday Night Specials” and small foreign handguns along with army surplus rifles!” (They got the ban on 5 shot army surplus rifles and handguns and small foreign pistols)
1970: “We only want to ban Saturday night specials! large handguns and rifles will not be affected!” There was also a call at this time to ban all private possession of ALL GUNS.
1976: “We only want to ban all handguns! Long guns will not be affected!”
1981: “The NRA should give up their handguns, and they can keep their rifles!”- Lee Grant on GMA
1984: “We must ban “assault Rifles, unsuitable for hunting!”
1989: George Bush bans import of foreign made “assault rifles”.
1992: Assault rifle ban passed by Clinton.
2000: first calls to ban single shot .50 cal rifles...
It has always been about handguns. Assault rifles was just a decoy to try and get their anti-gun foot in the door.
Once they get a ban on AWs then they will use the same reasons to go after handguns.
John Kennedy killed with a 5 shot bolt action rifle.
Bobby Kennedy with a .22 Iver Johnson Cadet revolver.
George Wallace wounded with a 5 shot Charter Arms .38spl.
Gerald Ford attacked with a 7 shot 1911 semi auto.
Edmond OK post office with two National Guard 7 shot 1911 pistols.
Ronald Reagan and Jim Brady with an RG-14 .22 pistol.
What do they all have in common? NONE over 7 rounds, yet after each one came a cry of panic to ban them.
That is a good summary.
I do remember Bush banning foreign assault rifles. I also remember Bush Jr. banning imports of products from China North who made a large number of pretty decent copies of famous American guns.