Horrido

Please sign the petition against HB 1022, a so-called "Assault Weapons Ban", which seeks to permanently reinstate and augment the 1994 debacle.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/409898348

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The black flag is raised: Ban them all... Let the Admin sort them out.

I know I'm going to have the last word... I have powers of deletion and lock.

leib10

Signed it.

Let me get it straight: are they going to ban the sale of the mentioned weapons, or actually confiscate those that are already in the hands of people?

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"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes." G-Man

gunnut

First they'll ban. Then they'll register. Finally they'll confiscate.

We have Australia to look up to.

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"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

RadioM

I'd have thought that handguns would be the bigger/real problem in America?

We were in a slightly different situation. Most of gun deaths (1980-1996)came about as a result of mass murders. Generally committed by people with no crimial records, using semi-automatic guns.

Since the 1950's Australia has become increasingly urban, thus most of the guns were left over from when people lived on farms and were not in use.

Historically people have only had guns for either: vermin control on farms or hunting. We don't keep guns for personal protection, and view the concept as somewhat strange (ahh cultural differences).

Thus when the gun buy back was proposed, most people didn't really mind as it was mostly just clearing up surplus weapons.

Now the laws have been watered down a little they are actually quite good for what we need in Australia and how we view gun control.

It's still legal to own semi-automatic rim & centre's as well as pump-action and self loading shot guns. You just need to be either: involved in primary production (a very lax category) or a professional shooter.

All in all a pretty good system, once the initial 'knee jerk' reaction kinks were taken care of.
It was the destruction of some really beautiful (self loading shot guns) and historical guns (rifles used in Gallipoli etc) that was the real sad part of our gun laws.

gunnut

There were no problems until politicians started to take away guns from law abiding citizens.

They do that to appear to be "tough on crime." Now criminals have their guns and we don't. They can act with impunity and get all the protection from the law while we have "rules of engagement."

Handguns are already more restricted than long guns. That didn't do much for the crime rate, so in typical socialist fashion, they want to ban more guns.

leib10

It makes zero sense banning these weapons, as about 1% of all gun crimes are committed with assault weapons. It's not like these weapons are becoming such a serious problem. The criminals are always going to have access to these weapons whether they ban them or not, so all they're doing is taking these weapons away from the law-abiding citizens.

RadioM

And there is the problem. Laws get passed restricting handguns which is a good move, it then needs to be followed up with extra policing for illegal handguns combined with a 'no questions asked' buy back scheme. This can be funded through registration fess.

If politicians did this rather than jumping from one headline grabbing move to another, problems may actually get fixed.

But I'm an avowed socialist so there goes!

omon

i think these bans have nothing to do with politicians wanting cut crime, they couldn't care less, how many ppl die, and from what, it's all about power, they want to look like they are needed, and to serve their political agendas, i say they are the biggest criminals, they waste our taxes, they kill ppl, with a pen. good thing we got nra.

bonehead

Cali banned .50 BMGs. because were a "huge" threat. Not once used in crime though. These people are not about making sence, they are about inflicting their will over the people. I have been to meetings with some of these people. They are about phobias, and delusions, but absolutely no sence. Taking the guns out of law abiding citizens IS EXACTLY what it is all about for these people. Clinton/Pelosi combination should scare the hell out of ANY gun owner in America. Remember that in Nov 2008.

bonehead

The problem exists for three reasons. 1) American citizens have a right to gun ownership. This is not a priviledge, this is a right. 2) Criminals generally don't turn in his/her weapon when it has been banned, but boy are they happy when their victims do. 3) New firearm banning laws only change todays, law abiding citizens, into tomorrow's criminals though these people have committed no crime. Meanwhile, the criminals the "NEW" laws were designed for, are going to keep their weapons.

Finally, The height of hypocracy is that many of the big name gungrabbing polititions actually have the very firearms they do not want the public to have. Yes, the very same people who want the general public to be disarmed, would never consider going out in public with out their own weapon. The message they are sending is that the world is a safer place only if the general public was disarmed, but these "elite" still are. I am not talking about law enforcement or the military. I am talking about a group of people who want an elite status to have the right to defend themselves with a gun, and are actively trying to deny the same for the general public.

Finally, You have zero clue as to how many guns there are out in America. The buyback program would be very, very expensive.Usually the only guns given up are the ones that are inoperable as any gun that does work is not given up because it is worth more than what the goverment is willing to pay. The only way to remove the weapons from the public in the U.S. would be a house-house sweep of every home in the country, and I can guarantee you that would get ugly as many of todays law abiding gun owners will not let their firearms go until the last bullet has been fired. That is how deep the trenches are for the ownership of guns in America.

SnowLeopard

A, B, and C

A: I often think that politcians are not out to run the country but to do things to attract attention to themselves.

B: Want to get the passion going, the blood flowing, the BP rising? Just mention gun control.

C: Anytime any such issue comes up, sales go up. People get worried about what may be lost, so they start buying up. My patron has me looking at getting an AR-15 (I'm partial to the carbines). Even with the .223 ammo shortage, it is very tempting.
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("Want to make people angry? Change something."--Truman, (wtte))

bonehead

Don't forget to pick up some high capacity mags as well. They get real spendy when they are, "no longer available". .223 ammo is still widely available by the cases at gun shows. It just cost a bit more than it used to.

leib10

I have about 20 30-round M16 mags.

I need to pick up some more for the G3, MP5, AK47, and AK74 while I still can.

SnowLeopard

About the magazines. Don't I know it! M-14 ones were high enough for the AR-10. Of course, on the other hand, I wasn't paying attention to the laws and bought some for conversion ...... and then the Brady law (right?) expired and I'm rather stuck with them.

But that is part of the calculation, to stock up on spare parts, just in case, like the charging handle, cotter pins, and so forth. Have a spring kit for the AR-10 somewhere.

Not sure about widely available. My patron, an expert (and don't you dare call him anything but that!), says that it is difficult to get, that it is all going overseas to the Mid East. He keeps me in mind whenever he is thinking about an order of .308. Currently, between .45 or .308, I'm okay, because I tend to buy when it is available as oppose to need, so I have a decent back stock. Plus, in this case, it helps that I don't get to range as much as I would like.

Back to AR-15. My conscience is quick to point out that it is a nice to have but do I really have about a $1000 to use for such? Do I really want to complicate my ammo getting issues? All good points but when one is faced of having what might not be there later, practicality and desire are fercious fighters.

So this is the issue that is put on the table: I have my .45 USP, Kimber UltraCarry, I have my AR-10. I don't hunt, only shoot to maintain my marksmanship skills should I need for police duties (and, yeah, firing the AR-10 is quite a rush, too!). I'm rated, informally, as an excellent shot, with the AR-10; personally, I put myself one class under sniper. I pass the time for barrel cooldowns by shooting a .22 Rutger rented at the range. I shoot accurately over iron sights with a combat sling standing. I practice fire, break contact, reacquire, shoot. My best range is reduced silouette at 100 yards (300 yards simulated). I have never shot full auto. I've drilled with M-16's, done obstacle courses with them, shot on the range with them. In high school, I shot competively. I have shot from a rolling deck so I believe in heavy rifle platforms (ie, why I lean toward to the M-14). I am partial to carbines, the 16 inch barrels, they are more comfortable to me. I like the .308 because I know that wherever I hit him, he's going down; if it is a car, small boat, mine, whatever, I can probably take it out with that round.

There is probably more but hopefully that is enough.

What should be on my wish list?
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(".45, cross hatched. If I hit him only in the hand, I know he's going down."--Jonathan Hemlock specifying his handgun, (w,stte), Book: The Loo Sanction by Trevanian)

texasjohn

I'm off topic, I know, but does anyone know where I can find 20 round clips for my SKS? I just have 30 round clips and the 10 round clips