Okay—so the new ban on so-called assault weapons has been put forward and to no one’s surprise is pretty much a total gun ban. A massive slate of weapons are slated to be banned since the legislation calls for the prohibition of semi-automatic rifles and handguns that have detachable magazines, and can carry more than 10 rounds (via Washington Examiner) [emphasis mine:
House Democrats have introduced a bill banning semi-automatic firearms in the wake of the Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla.
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., announced Monday he is introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. More than 150 Democrats have signed on in support of the legislation, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said.
[…]
The bill prohibits the “sale, transfer, production, and importation” of semi-automatic rifles and pistols that can hold a detachable magazine, as well as semi-automatic rifles with a magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds. Additionally, the legislation bans the sale, transfer, production, and importation of semi-automatic shotguns with features such as a pistol grip or detachable stock, and ammunition feeding devices that can hold more than 10 rounds.
Cicilline’s legislation names 205 specific firearms that are prohibited, including the AK-47 and AR-15.
“Assault weapons were made for one purpose,” Cicilline said in a statement. “They are designed to kill as many people as possible in a short amount of time. They do not belong in our communities.”
Deutch vowed during a CNN town hall last week to introduce a bill banning semi-automatic weapons.
Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 by blc88 on Scribd
In all, 156 of 193 House Democrats have backed this legislation. Yet, this is destined to fail. There’s not a single Republican who will support this in the House, or at least not nearly enough to ensure passage. Moreover, the votes are not there in the Senate. Red state Democrats would be put in a bind. There is nothing as vivid to their constituents as their guns being taken away. That’s a tangible thing. Something that’s in their home being confiscated due to hyper regulatory leftist hysteria over our Second Amendment rights. They would be voting for that—I would bet heavily that more than a couple would vote with Republicans if this ever got to their doorstep, but it won’t. Also, if we’re going by his word, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), who is a key player in the gun control pushes on the Hill, said he’s not pushing for a total ban on semiautomatics. In some ways, I think even he, a die-hard gun control advocate, knows a semiautomatic ban is a bridge too far.
So, it’s the same old game. Democrats say let’s have a discussion, only to spring a trap on the rest of us—yelling, condemning, and denigrating those with whom they disagree on gun policy. They use children to shield them from criticism. I don’t play that game. If you go on national television, spew nonsense, and push for the evisceration of American civil rights—I’m going to attack you. And by nonsense, I don’t mean simple disagreements; I mean things that are demonstrably false. I’m a proud NRA member. Full disclosure: I am a damn proud member—and this latest anti-gun push is tempting me to become a life member and give consistent monthly donations. That does not make me a child killer, nor is this insane smear an accurate description of the other 4,999,999 brothers and sisters in the NRA who support American freedom, the Constitution, and our Second Amendment rights. The NRA does not sell guns; that’s another garbage lie. You can be for school safety and support our Second Amendment.
In closing, let me slit the throat of this liberal gun control push because there seems to be this aura that somehow this could be successful. We won. We’ve won before everyone started going nuts about AR-15s again. We have a Republican president and a Republican Congress; two-thirds of the governorships are Republican, 67/99 state legislatures are under Republican control, and there are over 4,100 Republican state lawmakers in office—the most in GOP history. On the federal front, any so-called assault weapons ban is DOA. On the ultimate goal of abolishing the Second Amendment, it’s never going to happen. And stop with the marriage equality comparison. Gun rights drive voters; gay marriage did not. The latter was more obtained through a consistent campaign of lawfare, which eventually made its way to the Supreme Court.
So, breath easy, folks—a roll of toilet paper has more use and worth than this legislation.