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FR Gun Club - Semi-Automatic Firearms and the “Assault Weapon” Issue
NRA - ILA ^ | 9/3/08

Posted on 09/08/2008 3:47:11 AM PDT by sig226

Semi-automatics, like all firearms other than machine guns, fire one shot when the trigger is pulled, and they reload themselves after each shot. They were introduced in the 1880s and account for about 15 percent of the 250+ million firearms in the United States. Of new firearms sold in the United States during the last 20 years, semi-automatics account for about 75 percent of handguns, and a significant share of rifles and shotguns.

In the mid-1980s, anti-gun groups invented the term “assault weapon” and applied it to semi-automatic firearms that look like modern, fully-automatic military rifles, hoping to trick the public into thinking that the two were identical. As one such group put it, “The weapons’ menacing looks, coupled with the public’s confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons—anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun—can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons.” (Machine guns have been regulated since 1934, prohibited from importation and manufacture since 1968 and 1986, respectively, and are prohibited by about half the states.)

In 1989, the BATF banned the importation of 43 military-looking semi-automatic rifles equipped with various external attachments, such as a pistol-like grip, folding stock or flash suppressor. (E.g., rifles fashioned after the AK-47 and Uzi.) In 1993, it banned the importation of handguns having a similar styling, generally referred to with the slang term “assault pistols.” In 1994, it prohibited the importation of revolving cylinder shotguns and one semi-automatic shotgun, by subjecting them to the National Firearms Act. In 1998, it expanded the 1989 ban, to prohibit importation of rifles capable of using magazines designed for guns BATF banned in 1989. These bans remain in effect.

Between 1994-2004, federal law prohibited the manufacture of semi-automatics with the same external attachments, calling them “assault weapons,” and magazines holding more than 10 rounds, for any firearm. Between 1989-2000, several states passed similar laws. Gun control groups now want bans that define “assault weapon” to include a greater variety of semi-automatics, plus pump-action rifles and shotguns.

NRA opposes reinstating the federal “assault weapon” ban, imposing an expanded federal ban, and similar bans at the state level, for a variety of reasons, including:

Like all firearms other than fully-automatic firearms (machine guns), a semi-automatic fires only one shot when the trigger is pulled. Therefore, semi-automatics cannot “spray fire,” nor are they “easy to convert” to do so. Federal law prohibits manufacturing an easily convertible firearm, converting a firearm, and making or possessing conversion parts.

Semi-automatics are not “high-powered.” Semi-automatic center-fire pistols use ammunition similar in power to center-fire revolver ammunition. All other semi-automatics (rifles, shotguns and rimfire pistols) use the same ammunition as other firearms (bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action, revolver, single-shot, etc.).

Semi-automatics are the type of firearm used most often for self-defense, training and competitive marksmanship, and are commonly used for hunting. They’re used to defend against crime much more often than to commit crime and, like every other kind of firearm, the vast majority are owned by people who do not commit crimes. External attachments such as a pistol-like grip, folding stock or flash suppressor don’t change how a firearm operates or provide an advantage to a criminal.

“Assault weapons” have never been used in more than about 1-2 percent of violent crime. A study for Congress found that the federal ban affected guns “never used in more than a modest fraction of all gun murders,” and that its 10-round limit on new ammunition magazines didn’t reduce multiple-victim or multiple-wound crimes. There are more than 30 times as many murders without guns, as with “assault weapons.” Most, if not all, crimes committed with “assault weapons” could also be committed with a different firearm or by other means.

Since 1991, the number of firearms in the U.S. has risen by more than 75 million (one-third of them semi-automatic, including several million guns defined as “assault weapons” in the now-expired federal ban of 1994), the number of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds has risen by more than 50 million, and the U.S. violent crime and murder rates have decreased 39 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

* * Some other articles linked at the site:

Related Fact Sheets:

Semi-Automatic Firearms and the “Assault Weapon” Issue

Semi-Automatic Firearms and the “Assault Weapon” Issue Summary

Why State Legislatures Should Reject Semi-Automatic and Pump-Action...

McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Infamous Clinton Gun...

Top 10 Reasons The Clinton Gun Ban Was Allowed To Expire

There's a video, too, starring your friends Schumer, Brady, Rather, etc. You may want to keep a barf bag handy if you watch it.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: banglist; frgc; frgunclub
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To: wastedyears
correction:

"Lug welded to the barrel"

should read:

"Nut welded to the barrel".

21 posted on 09/08/2008 6:06:34 AM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: harpseal; TexasCowboy; nunya bidness; AAABEST; Travis McGee; Squantos; Shooter 2.5; wku man; SLB; ..
Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

For the FreeRepublic "banglist", please click HERE .

22 posted on 09/08/2008 8:31:00 AM PDT by Joe Brower (Sheep have three speeds: "graze", "stampede" and "cower".)
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To: tcostell

Did that guy need stiches over his RT eye, or was he just posing for the picture?


23 posted on 09/08/2008 8:48:24 AM PDT by G.Mason (Duty, Honor, Country)
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To: SJSAMPLE
If you are in posession of the parts AND a rifle in which those parts may be fitted, you are guilty of “constructive intent” and, for all purposes, posessing the actual machinegun. (M-16 fire control group and an AR-15).

My best hope for Palin's actions is that she might start tightening the leash on F Troop.

24 posted on 09/08/2008 8:57:08 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (McCain/Palin 2008 : Palin the Paladin 2012)
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To: Travis McGee
Now here's a salt weapon you can relate to. 1420 HP with a hi cap magazine.
25 posted on 09/08/2008 9:08:38 AM PDT by Sender (Never lose your ignorance; you can never regain it!)
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To: sig226
McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Infamous Clinton Gun...

Safe to assume that they won't try any ex post facto nonsense? An awful lot of weapons are being purchased to get in under AWB 2.0.

26 posted on 09/08/2008 9:39:18 AM PDT by gundog (John McCain is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.)
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To: G.Mason
He was "on target" so he was OK with the trigger finger, but he was resetting his cheek mount. (you know how wierdly shaped those AK stocks are).

He went through several magazines without a scratch.

27 posted on 09/08/2008 9:40:42 AM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: Travis McGee

At the risk of being the millionth person to bother you on the subject, how are you doing on the third installment of your breast-obsessed, nativist rant?


28 posted on 09/08/2008 9:41:12 AM PDT by gundog (John McCain is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.)
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To: CholeraJoe
I wish I could do the same with my daughter. (Sigh)

Actually, although my own daughter is now almost 28 years old and has a firearm of her own to keep her company, during her high school years, my semiautos were an integral part of her dating experience. When her young man would come to the front door, one of my pistols or one of my rifles would meet him at the front door and escort him into meet the family for a quiet "chat" before their date. When they got ready to depart, likely as not, the same weapon that escorted HIM in would escort THEM out with a quiet whispered word to remember our "chat." That always worked fine for me! Try it, you'll like it and I'm certain your semiautos will be glad to assist in any way possible!

29 posted on 09/08/2008 9:42:00 AM PDT by ExSoldier (Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.)
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To: tcostell
Thanks ... I read farther down (your post #19) that he was setting up.

From first hand knowledge I know that this person only gets hit by a scope once. ;)

30 posted on 09/08/2008 10:52:31 AM PDT by G.Mason (Duty, Honor, Country)
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To: gundog; Travis McGee

Hey !! Don’t make him feel bad.....he’s already taken half the naked pictures of all those beautiful wimmin out of that third book (lying selling point)..........;o)


31 posted on 09/08/2008 11:25:45 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Squantos
So the book is done? I'll settle for half the naked women, if that's what it takes. :)
32 posted on 09/08/2008 11:32:58 AM PDT by gundog (John McCain is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.)
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To: sig226
Since 1991, the number of firearms in the U.S. has risen by more than 75 million (one-third of them semi-automatic, including several million guns defined as “assault weapons” in the now-expired federal ban of 1994), the number of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds has risen by more than 50 million, and the U.S. violent crime and murder rates have decreased 39 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

One would hope that this information would put the "more guns = more crime" fraud to sleep forever. Of course, that requires rational people without an agenda on the other side.

BTW, I can confirm that all of the guns in my gunsafe have been exceptionally well behaved...well, except that there's a bit of unauthorized and unprotected fraternization going on, since they seems to multiply only slightly slower than rabbits. :>)

33 posted on 09/08/2008 11:34:51 AM PDT by Ancesthntr (An ex-citizen of the Frederation dedicated to stopping the Obomination from becoming President)
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To: sig226
Mine:


Bushmaster M4 A3

34 posted on 09/08/2008 11:56:26 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: gundog
Safe to assume that they won't try any ex post facto nonsense?

Of course not. They'll do whatever they can get away with.

35 posted on 09/08/2008 1:08:24 PM PDT by Lee N. Field ("How can there be peace when the sorceries and whordoms of your mother Jezebel are so many?")
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To: SJSAMPLE
I'm in deeper.


36 posted on 09/08/2008 1:51:11 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (The average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. - Ratatouille)
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To: G.Mason

Those AK’s really have light recoil. I wouldn’t try holding my head that close to a scope on something like my .375 H&H magnum!


37 posted on 09/08/2008 2:03:42 PM PDT by MtnClimber (http://www.jeffhead.com/obama/nobamanation-sticker.jpg)
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To: Lee N. Field

If they try confiscations, it will be the beginning of something that they do not want.


38 posted on 09/08/2008 2:40:02 PM PDT by gundog (John McCain is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.)
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To: mad_as_he$$
This excerpt is from U.S. v. Alverson, 666 F.2d 341 (9th Cir. 1982) www.titleii.com

A. The Thompson .45 Caliber Weapon
Section 5845(b) of Title 26 defines a "machine gun" as "any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger." Alverson argues that the Government offered insufficient proof that the Thompson .45 caliber weapon fit this definition. No one disputes that the Thompson, in the condition in which it was left at the gun store, did not fire "more than one shot ... by a single function of the trigger." The Government contends, however, that its evidence proves either that the gun could be "readily restored to shoot automatically" or that the gun did function automatically when Alverson brought it to the gun store and before he replaced the disconnect.

The following evidence was adduced: (1) when defendant first brought the weapon to the store, he stated that he and his son had just been firing it and that "while his son was shooting it he held down the trigger too long." This statement makes sense only in reference to a weapon that fires more than one shot per function of the trigger. (2) In the presence of gun store employees, defendant removed the disconnect from the gun and replaced it because "you don't want [the Thompson] like this," or "it was fixed." The second disconnect differed from the first in that it "had a smaller hump on it." A Government firearms expert testified that the function of a disconnect was to prevent the weapon from firing fully automatically. He also testified that the Thompson "probably" would fire fully automatically if it had a disconnect on which the hump had been "filed down." Finally, the Government's expert testified that a "shaved off" disconnect, in conjunction with the polished interior surfaces he actually observed on the Thompson, "would convert it into fully automatic." (3) Defendant had the knowledge to convert semi-automatic weapons to fully automatic,and had done so on previous occasions. (4) A gun store employee testified that appellant gave, as a reason for having his wife sign for the Thompson, the fact that "he had spent 18 months in Lompoc for possession of a machine gun." From this evidence, a rational trier of fact could conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Thompson could be "readily restored to shoot automatically." [footnote 1]

B. Constructive Possession of the Other Weapons
Possession of firearms in violation of section 5861(d) "need not be [proved by] exclusive actual possession, but may be [proved by] constructive or joint possession." United States v. Kalama, 549 F.2d 594, 596 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1110, 97 S.Ct. 1147, 51 L.Ed.2d 564 (1977). "'In order to establish constructive possession, the government must produce evidence showing ownership, dominion, or control over the contraband itself or the premises ... in which contraband is concealed.' ... [D]ominion and control over[defendant's] own residence, in which the guns were found, is a sufficient basis for the jury's inference of constructive possession." United States v. Smith, 591 F.2d 1105, 1107 (5th Cir. 1979) (quoting United States v. Ferg, 504 F.2d 914, 916-17 (5th Cir. 1974)). [footnote 2] The defendant argues that the Government's evidence fails to show that the residence in which the three additional weapons were seized was his.

39 posted on 09/08/2008 4:47:33 PM PDT by sig226 (Obama '08 - No, You Can't.)
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To: sig226

Thanks!!!!


40 posted on 09/08/2008 5:17:45 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.)
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