ALERT: Legislation Details: Senate To Ban Hundreds
of Semiautomatic Rifles, Handguns, Shotguns, Magazines; Includes
Fingerprint Registration Requirements
For anyone
who may have thought Senator Feinstein and her colleagues in Congress
were bluffing about coming
firearms legislation that would restrict the sale, transfer
and possession of certain firearms, think again.
A summary of
the proposed legislation has been made available, and it’s
a whopper.
Among outright
banning 120 ‘assault’ related firearms (such as AR-15′s
and AK-47′s), the bill will also target any weapon that utilizes
a “detachable magazine,” as well as any magazine with
a capacity of over ten rounds, which would include semi-automatic
handguns and shotguns.
Moreover, if
you already own a firearm or modification that ends up on the ban
list, you will be required under Federal law to register that gun,
complete with a background check, fingerprinting and local law enforcement
verification.
Those who have
recently
purchased firearms that would fall under the ban may soon find
Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
(ATF) at their door looking to confiscate ‘illegal’
weapons or engage in home searches for illegal accessories like
‘high capacity’ magazines (over 10 rounds), flash suppressors,
pistol grips, and bullet buttons (a feature designed to circumvent
‘fixed’ magazine laws in states like California).
The
following is a summary of the proposed Assault Weapons Legislation:
Bans the
sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of:
120 specifically-named
firearms
Certain
other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept
a detachable magazine and have one military characteristic
Semiautomatic
rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more
than 10 rounds
Strengthens
the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by:
Moving
from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test
Eliminating
the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from
the characteristics test
Banning
firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address
attempts to “work around” prior bans
Bans large-capacity
ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10
rounds.
Protects
legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by:
Grandfathering
weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment
Exempting
over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting
purposes and
Exempting
antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons
Requires
that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms
Act, to include:
Background
check of owner and any transferee;
Type and
serial number of the firearm;
Positive
identification, including photograph and fingerprint;
Certification
from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would
not violate State or local law; and
Dedicated
funding for ATF to implement registration
Ammunition,
namely the purchase of bulk ammunition, has not been mentioned in
the legislation summary. However, previous reports indicate that
the purchase of large
amounts of ammunition through the internet and directly from
dealers may also be in Congress’ sights.
Are Americans
prepared to give up their guns?
In
Los Angeles, where millions of residents depend on government support
to feed their families and receive healthcare, hundreds of cars
lined up for hours for a local buy-back program that promised to
exchange guns for $100 grocery gift cards. Thousands of handguns,
rifles, and antique firearms were
turned in – for food.
The lock-down
is coming and it’s going to start when Congress reconvenes
on January 3, 2013.