[Wild Game]

I must admit, except for folks who have been slapped with a restraining order of some kind, I fail to see how this assault weapons ban has had any affect.

Since the ban's signing and its enforcement, I've been able to buy 20, 30, 40, 50, and 75 round mags, an AK47, a couple of SKS's, shotguns, a Tech 9 by intratech (before Harris and Kleibol had one!), large cap mags for anything, even a 30 rounder for my Browning Hi-Power 9mm (LOL Don't know why!). I've purchased weapons made in China, Serbia, Russia, and Romania.

I'm not for any weapons ban at all, and I'm not a total one issue Republican. I have a few "litmis test" of my own. Abortion, 2nd Amedment, Taxes. I just fail to see how this weapons ban has stopped someone from buying and owning any firearm they could before the ban. Again, with the one exception of the restraining orders floating around out there.

Maybe if I read stories from freepers that had problems or their rights violated I could understand better the illegal law's infringement.

My story doesn't reflect a major problem.

The bill's renewel needs to be defeated in the Senate, I agree, but to allow the demoncraps to get re-elected or elected over a law that doesn't affect our rights (even though the gun grappers thought it would) is really crazy.

Thanks for replying....

[11th Earl of Mar]

So are we saying that the Assault Weapon Ban is much like the Partial Birth Abortion Ban- largely symbolic, but in reality very ineffective in stopping the actual act?

[blau993]

The AWB has lowered my self esteem, decreased my libido, and made me profoundly depressed. I think Feinstein and Schumer should pay me a lot of money. It's the American Way.

[GingisK]

Just before the ban I saved a mere $750 in order to purchase a Belgium-made FN-FAL. These are really nice weapons, and a pleasure to shoot. The ban struck before I was able to make the purchase. Real FALs, whenever available, are now priced $2700 and up.

I enjoy shooting military weapons, and this is nearly my only sport. I don't hunt. I enjoy collecting well made weapons. Now I'll probably never be able to purchase a genuine FAL ... that is a pity.

I did manage to find a "rebuilt" FAL from South America, but is is a far cry from the real McCoy. (Actually, it is junk by comparison, and doesn't shoot as accurately.)

This begs the question: Why can some people drive over-powerd cars, bungie jump, and parachute while I am not allowed to persue my interets? Yes, the ban has affected me.

[Copernicus]

but to allow the demoncraps to get re-elected or elected over a law that doesn't affect our rights (even though the gun grappers thought it would) is really crazy.

To use the language of the left this law has created a "hostile environment" where gunowners are presumed guilty until proven innocent or a "penumbra" of fear, uncertainty and confusion for those who deal or trade in firearms or otherwise appreciate the 2nd Amendment.

The UnConstitutional retroactive application of misdeameanor "domestic violence" penalties to barroom fights dating to the 1940's (or before if records exist) has been a source of mayhem in the lives of otherwise outstanding citizens including police, private investigators and security companies.

In my personal case, I witnessed with astonishment the behaviour of a KMart Clerk in 1995 (before KMart went off the deep end) when he sold me a shotgun (took over 30 minutes to complete the transaction);refused to sell me ammunition, and escorted me to the front door of the store with my sealed carton.

The local Sheriff's Office attempted to seize Social Security numbers by requiring them on pistol permit applications until we A. explained the law and the Constitution to him. and B. Voted him out of office after 20 years.

This law and other gun control laws offer aid and comfort to the Blame America and American Ideals First crowd; are UnConstitutional; and should be repealed as a "feel good" measure for all the REAL Americans who have "stuck by their guns" through thick and thin.

If we can remove Saddam-ites from power in Iraq, we must surely be able to remove Saddam-ites (and their bad legislation)from power in the United States whether they call themselves Democrat or Republican.

Hope this helps,

Best regards,

[SSN558]

The adds for high capacity magazines are everywhere. They are usually accompanied by words to the effect of, "limited supply these items will soon be unavailable." They are still for sale and widely available after ten years, in addition you can also buy rebuild kits for a few bucks just in case.

Your preban rifles are worth a few more bucks, and rebuild kits are readily available. I see used ones for sale all the time.

It would seem that the assault rifle bans had three major impacts.

1. It drove Timothy McVeigh over the edge and led to the deaths of 168 federal workers in Oklahoma City.

2. It galvanized the membership of NRA and other groups swelling their membership to over six million.

3. It caused the Impeached Traitor Rapist to lose the Congress and Senate.

BTW the ten year expiration date was a calculated political ploy to stick a Republican President and Congress with a sticky election year issue. If Dubya and the Congress extend the ban they will lose votes, that is certain. How many votes they lose is up for grabs. Weak Republicans will lose their jobs as a result, and this one litmus test issue could change the balance of power; Democraps planned it that way.

[fourdeuce82d]

Expensive magazines, can't get a new AR with collapsible stock.

[Tailback]

Luckily the AW bill passed before I could fulfill my evil urge to commit a drive-by bayonetting attack. (sarcasm/) Then when I got into high power rifle competetive shooting I had to pay an outrageous price for the 20rd USGI mags which most people use. Most 10 rounders aren't reliable enough to depend on for leg points.

[dinodino]

Wild Game, since you seem to think the ban has had no effect on you, why don't you tell us what you've done with all those nice high-cap magazines you've purchased since the ban went into effect? With which guns have you fired them? I'd like to hear it. If you have not actually used the mags, I'd also like you to tell the class why you haven't.

[cashion]

I'd like to be able to buy 15rnd drop-free magazines for my Glock .40cal at $15 instead of $90. So-called law enforcement can do it, why can't I?

[FOMTY]

It legitimized the banning of certan firearms if they were not PC to the sucker moms and a lot of hunters and it energized hardcore VPC-type gun-grabbers. Its continued existence makes gun-grabbing politicians more brazen. As a result of this the city of Toledo, Ohio passed their own bans on "certain semi-automatic firearms" (more strict than the federal AWB), normal capacity magazines (illegal to posess), and they also passed a "junk gun ban". I moved out of the county, one of the few blue zone areas in Ohio, where I could have voted for conservatives.

[Crusader21stCentury]

What part of "shall not be infringed" are you having a problem with?
This is the bottom line, no local, state or federal government has the authority to infringe on my God given right to possess any firearms.
And just so you know,I don't include an M1A2 Abrahms as being a firearm.

[Lazamataz]

My high-capacity magazine purchased have been stopped because the cost of hicaps is prohibitive. This means that 1) I will not sell any of my hicaps -- they are too rare, and 2) I cannot seem to secure or afford hicaps at this time.

I am directly and adversely effected by this ban.

[The FRugitive]

I paid $600 for a piece of crap romanian AK-47 put together with surplus parts. You've never in your life seen a lower quality fire arm.

A good quality AK-47 will now cost thousands of dollars.

DOWN WITH BUSH! >:(

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

No more fresh turkey or squirrel for Thanksgiving. hahahahahahahaha

[Ronaldus Magnus]

I'll tell you how it affected me! ^{\a friend/} This "friend" of mine ordered a few pre-ban magazines for his Beretta 92. Everything went fine until this "friend" came home to find that his package had arrived and that this "friend" was now committing a felony worth 5 or 10 years in Club Fed!!! Think about it, this is legal equivalent of possessing a quarter kilo of Colombian nose candy! All this from what is otherwise a completely unregulated item except for an almost illegibly small date and serial number. After some desperate snips with some sheet metal shears and I quick trip to town to find a secluded dumpster, I finally understood the real intent of this stupid law.

I won't tell you how many post-ban rifles in pre-ban configuration I have handled at gun shows before checking their serial numbers in my PDA to find they are equivalent to unregistered machine guns just because someone attached a $25 plastic 'pistol grip" stock. This law has to go. If the Republicans can't let it expire after being given control of all three branches of government, I just might start looking for a new party that can.

[tahiti]

"...over a law that doesn't affect our rights"

The above phrase is almost, if not an oxymoron.

"...the right to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED." The assault weapon ban does affect our rights.

The defninition of "infringement" is "To transgress or exceed the limits of; violate; to defeat; invalidate."

Thus, by defintion, any gun control law is uncontitutional.

Rights are absolute, contrary to socialist judges pronouncements to the contrary by Ms. Sandra O'Connor.

Rights are not negotiable with the rest of the citizens as to need.

The assault weapon ban is a violation of our inalienable right to "keep and bear arms" and thus is very harmful.

[c-b 1]

You have been able to buy those weapons, and magazines because there were already a large supply in the country. Maybe you haven't noticed but as the supply diminishes the price increases, AK mags that were $5.00 are now $15.00 drums have more than tripled in price, a Russian SKS that sold for under $100.00 before the ban will now cost over $200.00. Prices will continue to increase, the availability will continue to decrease. As with any infringement on our rights the next generations will feel the effects of it more than we will.

[spodefly]

Being more of a 'classic' weapons kind of guy, most of the guns I own are older than I am ... British .303, Springfield .30-06, Remington 11-48, Winchester .44 lever action, etc. Classic stuff ... good hearty stocks that whole trees were sacrificed for.

Got an SKS back in the late '80s/early '90s that came with the bayonet, and subsequently underwent the usual SKS tricks ... folding stock, flash sup, 30 rnd mag, etc. All the add-on gook has since been removed because I didn't want to have to worry about the possibility that some combination of elements could render the gun illegal ... I really have tried to understand the convoluted aspects of the law, and comply. But the wording and the logic is so non-understandable, it was easier to trash the cosmetics and stick with what was surely in compliance.

Same gun, same ballsitics. Less plastic. Breaking a federal gun law because of some plastic gun parts was something that I would not chance. So back to the natural wood tones and away from the evil black plastic.

And now the world is a safer place.


The AWB is a stupid law put in place by the bottom-of-the-barrel gun-grabbing legislators to 'feel good for the chilren'. The camel got his whole head under the tent with this one, and it should die in '04. If AWB reauthorization even reached Bush's desk, the republicans have failed to understand one of the fundamental reasons they are in power.

[edsheppa]

The biggest effect on me is skipping over the posts about it on FR.

Oh, I did get a chuckle out of the idea that a backlash will cost Bush the election.

[CyberAnt]

One of the arguments I kept hearing was that if we had a national emergency, and police were in short supply, we might need this type of weapon in the hands of legal owners - and not the gangs or looters who might own them.

Anybody agree ...??