[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....

[I got the rope]

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.

And what was the "mark up" for those cheaply made magazines?

[HitmanLV]

I have to confess some ignorance here - I don't know much about guys. Can you please, or someone else, explain to me the difference between an automatic weapon and a semi-automatic weapon? And also what they mean by an 'Assualt Weapon' - in colloquial use it would seem to me that any gun is an assault weapon, but what is specifically meant by that?

This isn't a trick - I just see many talking heads dropping words like this and I don't doubt that the typical person on the street has any idea what they mean.

[Red6]

Isn't it the Assault weapon ban that states that bayonet lugs are illegal on new weapons?

When was the last bank robbed at bayonet point?

How many intentional bayonet stabbings with knife mounted to weapon have occurred in say the last DECADE?

Does a pistol grip on a rifle make into more of an assault weapon?

What exactly defines an assault weapon? On the news you hear things like: "Today Freddy killed his teacher with a 22 bolt action assault rife". Who is the MASTER with the definition? My M1 is a former military tool made for killing PEOPLE; does it qualify to be labeled as bad, as an assault weapon?

Are 30 round magazines more dangerous than 20 or 10? Is a 15 round pistol magazine more dangerous than a 9 round? Last I checked, statistically most gunfights are long over before shot 3 or 4 is fired.

Who comes up with this crap? Are people really this ignorant? Do people not see that this whole issue is nothing more than popularistic gerrymandering along issues to gather some fringe votes from weirdoes who personally don't care for guns so see nothing wrong with violating others rights?

I don't Jet Ski; jet skiing is bad for the environment-Ban it.

I don't rock climb; it defaces the rocks-Ban it.

I don't scuba dive; it’s dangerous, many damage the environment-ban it.

I don't care for motorcycles; they are dangerous and cost the taxpayer money-ban it.

I don't own a plane; Private planes are hard on the environment and are dangerous-ban it.

Have you seen how those roller bladers endanger pedestrians? Ban it.

SUVs are bad for the environment-ban them.

Think of those poor animals in cages (zoo, water world, circus)-ban them.

You see, tolerance is more then saying, "I AM TOLERANT TO OTHERS". People who want to dictate how others must live despite them not being influenced by the actions of the other are not at all tolerant, and if you ague "Well, them having a weapon influences me", then all I got to say is "What are your hobbies, your interests?” because there is someone, somewhere that has an objection to that.

It is unfortunate that the RIGHT to bear arms has become a sacrificial lamb for politicians in our country. The majority does not care and because it does not influence them, they are OK with stepping on the few that do want their rights. A few are loudmouth weirdoes. They have pseudo logical semi accurate ideas or statistics that where collected for the point of substantiating their view. Finally you throw in a morally corruptible politician who is willing to say anything as long as he gets elected and you have a dangerous environment for the gun enthusiast.

[Dan from Michigan]

I own a 1911 ("evil semiautomatc", pocket rocket, junk gun), a 12 gauge,( over .50 caliber, riot/scattergun) and a .30-06 high powered, semi-automatic, detached magazine, sniper rifle.

How does these affect me? Personally, by jacking up the prices so I can't afford them.

But the big reason it affects me besides being unconstitutional. If we don't hang together, we all hang seperately. If we don't fight for the rights of hunters, they won't be there for target shooters. If we don't fight for clay shooters, they won't be there for handgunners. If we don't fight for handgunners, they won't be there for the AR or M1 shooters.

It's the nose in the camel's tent. Our "good" Sinator, Mr. Lenin Lenin, tried to ban all M1 through the Civillian Marksmanship Program last year. Over in Illinois, Daley, Munoz, and Blagojevich want to ban shotguns. We still have an Anti-rights majority in the US Senate, a slight majority in the house, and an unreliable president.

It's incrementalism.

[CWOJackson]

Admit it, you're really Michael Moore looking for good quotes for Angry White Men II.

[Centurion2000]

Yes you can still buy the products, but the AWB has imposed an artificial scarcity on certain models and magazines and has driven the price up by 200+% in some cases of weapons.

[PatrioticAmerican]

1. AR-15 magazines are now $34 instead of $7.
2. Cannot buy an AR-15 in certain evil configurations.
3. The price of an AR-15 went from $450 to $900.
4. Most weapons cannot be obtained in many states or at all nationally.
5. The stigma has created an atmosphere whereby many ranges frown on or strictly forbid "assault weapons".
6. Aftermarket parts are now stupidly designed to meet federal laws that make no sense.

etc, etc, etc.

[ExSoldier]

It's one more little incremental erosion of our freedoms on the road to total confiscation. It's forced me to accept 10 rounds in a magazine that ought to hold between 12 and 15 or more. In a crisis it might make the difference between having enough rounds to do the job and maybe not. I ALWAYS carry a spare magazine when I carry a gun. When carrying my Ruger SP101 I carry three reloads in speedloaders. When carrying a Glock or Beretta or other semi-auto, I usually carry 1-2 spare mags depending on my destination and route that day. The caliber is also dependent on where I'm going to be. All in all, I strongly favor having MORE rather than LESS ammo! The stupid mag ban exemplifies this. ALSO, I don't enjoy paying over $100 for a high cap magazine.

Bush #41 really crisped my butt when he showed his NWO crfedentials in using an Executive Order to ban the importation of inexpensive Chinese 7.62x39 ammo and in the banning from importation a whole series of extremely capable firearms by a variety of gunmakers like the H&K PSG-1.

I'm less concerned by this ban because it will sunset than I am in fearing what may rise in it's place and be permanent. The Brady Bunch is already pursuing a whole slew of "improvements" to the old ban including requiring an "arsenal license" if you own more than say three guns; or a tax per bullet or a ban on reloading equipment. George Washington is alledged to have said this: "Fear the government that FEARS your guns!"

[antaresequity]

Take a look at California...that is exactley what the AWB is going to lead to.

I can't even purchase an AW in California.

[meyer]

The real question ought to be "how did the so-called "assault-weapons" ban affect gun crimes? The real answer will be: "it didn't".

[xm177e2]

The ban has not affected me at all, because I live in CA. But if there was no state-level ban, I would own an AR-15.

[meyer]

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.

First, the restraining order issue - it has been hashed about here and elsewhere. It gives one disgruntled party unbridled power to disarm another based on here-say. That isn't a minor issue in itself.

The "weapons ban" has costed gun enthusiasts a ton of money by making reasonably priced guns more expensive. It has put a limit on larger magazines, pushing prices up. It has caused manufacturers of such fine weapons as the AR-15 to have to re-tool to eliminate the deadly bayonet clip (note that to the best of my knowledge, there hasn't been a single murder in the US in which a mounted bayonet was used - that would be silly. Why use a knife in a gun-fight?). None of these are good things.

But as I asked before, what good has the ban done that it should be extended?

I'm certainly not a single-issue republican either. I judge based on many issues. But it should be noted that the gun issue is the single most important issue we have. Why? Because the second amendment is the one amendment that gives the people the power to stop tyranny. I'll not base my vote only on this issue, but it weighs more heavily than most when I decide which box to mark on election day (or if I even mark any box).

[Joe Hadenuf]

Has the "Assault Weapons" ban prevented you from enjoying, purchasing, selling or trading firearms? How? How did it not change anything for you?

No offense bro, but I don't think this is anyone's business in the first place. It should have never reached this point. My only comment would be the law itself is, or should be, offensive to every clear thinking American.

[El Gato]

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.

Of course eventually the supply of "pre-ban" magazines will dry up. Also the versions of those guns you can legally buy now (assuming they aren't "pre-ban" specimans") are not the same guns, although the differences are not large. The biggest loss, IMHO, is the flash suppressor, but the real loss is in a principal. That principal is that if the government can restrict you to < 10 round magazines, ban flash suppressors, and so forth, they can ban entire classes of firearms. Oh maybe not this year or next, but they can and eventually they will. So even if the ban doesn't affect you now, or at least not too much, it will affect your children and/or their children, even if nothing is changed. So I guess it's OK to give up your kids rights, as long as yours are left intact?

If the ban is renewed, it probably won't be a one for one replacement, as the article indicates they want to ban the import of >10 round magazines, new or "pre-ban". They will likely try to get more guns included on the list, perhaps even SKSs, M-1 Garands and M-1 Carbines (if newly manufactured, imported, or remanufactured, as many Garands now are), or they might just ban semi-autos altogether, or remove the grandfathering from the law. Any of those is possible with a new law. And if the Deputy Press Secretary is to be believed, President Bush is committed to sign such a new law, if Congress passes one. No matter what the terms of the law, if it's sold as a renewal (with a little loophole closing) of the AWB, the President will now be under tremendous pressure to sign it, just at the '04 elections kick into high gear. With the President having declared his support, the RINOs will have no need to vote against the bill. This is a bad thing the deputy press secretary has done, make no mistake about it.

[Bella_Bru]

While it has not personally affected me, it does concern me. We must always have our eyes open, watching carefully, whatever today's trend in what firearms are "scary" or "ugly". Many here may feel safe with, "Well, all I have is a 12 gauge and a .38", but please be aware that those may be tomorrow's "scary, so we gotta take them away" firearms.

Hey, Anna? Please post that pic you have, the funny one of the derringer. ;-)

[Lurker]

It has pissed me off.

That's enough.

L

[Atlas Sneezed]

In addition to the increasing cost of magazines and rifles with certain practical features (all the militaries of the world can't be wrong), one major effect of the ban has not yet been noted here:

It prevents citizens from obtaining modern rifles of certain designs. Even if one can afford the inflated cost of a pre-ban AR, HK, FAL, etc, one is stuck with 30-year-old technology. I am denied the chance to buy a MODERN rifle because of the ban.

I am also denied the chance to buy a modern pistol with normal magazine capacity. New guns come out all the time, but there is no existing stock of magazines for them.

These factors will grow in significance over the generations, as we are stuck with 1970s or older guns that become so scarce and valuable that they will not be widely distributed among free citizens, but will be "safe-queens" like current machine guns (of which there exists one for every thousand citizens -- not much of a counterbalanace to a standing army!)

[holdmuhbeer]

Hasn't bothered me at all, I deer and turkey hunt so I buy bolt actions and shotguns, no need for an ak or an sks.

[Dick Bachert]

God forbid, IF or WHEN large numbers of American citizens NEED full automatic Diane Fineswine/Chucky Schumer type “assault” weapons and ammo, there will probably be plenty available from the local National Guard Armory – and some of the Guardsmen I know will be happy to help load them up.

Insofar as OTHER types of military caliber weapons are concerned, studies prove that a decent marksman with a good semi-auto rifle who picks his shots is FAR more effective than some dork spraying the woods with a full auto as the dork will probably run out of ammo before he hits anything.

Next problem?

[SauronOfMordor]

The full effect of the ban were not felt immediately, but they are slowly becoming apparent as prices for "pre-ban" items keep going up.

My attitude is that any politician who claims to support the 2nd Amendment should, at minimum, not give support to any new gun-ban legislation, or make promises to renew any thet come up for renewal. If Bush signs a renewal, he will have forfeited the votes of a good number of gun owners (perhaps not tens of millions, but FAR more than his margin of victory in the last election).

He should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure it never gets to his desk, now that he's been stupid enough to go on record as supporting its renewal.