HK-91 .308 - I've got two and they both run like a clock.
Posted on 07/21/2004 10:33:12 AM PDT by neverdem
SUMMARY: Doomsayers are firing wild bursts of worrisome predictions about the expiration of the ban on assault weapons.
A cry of alarm is sounding around the country. In mid-September, the decade-old federal law banning a number of military-style "assault weapons" expires. To hear some of our colleagues in the news media talk, all hell is going to break loose starting Sept. 14.
"Anyone seeking weapons of mass destruction inside the United States may find it considerably easier after Sept. 13" when the ban expires, warns the Washington Post.
In "two months Š the federal assault weapons ban dissolves like a wisp of gun smoke," opines the Los Angeles Times; political leaders who fail to renew the ban "risk making American cities and towns far more dangerous" undercutting the high-profile campaign to curb terrorism.
"Expect the market to become flooded" with AK-47s and Uzis, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, author of the 1994 law banning 19 specific weapons, recently told the San Francisco Chronicle.
This blast of rhetoric comes from people who switch to fully automatic every time the subject of guns comes up. In fact, the situation is nothing so dire as portrayed.
First, let's remember that Congress passed the assault weapon ban in 1994 after a series of high-profile shootings involving semiautomatic rifles. It came amid growing concern about rising crime rates in America, big-city street gangs, the crack cocaine epidemic and an emerging right-wing "militia" movement. The law attempted to identify a class of military and military-style guns seemingly designed for combat, rather than target shooting or hunting. Voting for the ban took Montana's Democratic Sen. Max Baucus as close as he's ever come to losing an election, but a poll we commissioned in 1995 showed a solid majority of Montanans favored banning assault weapons. More recent polls suggest very strong support nationally. Legislation renewing the ban died earlier this year after it was combined with a controversial bill granting gun makers liability protection.
There is one major flaw with the ban. It's one that the critics bring up at some peril to law-abiding gun owners. It's this: In mechanics and function, some of the banned weapons are not appreciably different than an array of rifles and shotguns that remain perfectly legal to manufacture. Generally speaking, the banned weapons look different than sporting arms. But functionally, they're the same.
That's one reason why Sept. 14 will not dawn with the staccato sounds of automatic fire. The assault weapon ban ended the manufacture and retail sale of certain weapons, but hardly dented the firepower at Americans' disposal.
And, for that matter, the 1994 law banned the manufacture and retail sale of those weapons. It didn't restrict ownership and resale of the weapons already in circulation - millions of them. In fact, many people ran out and bought assault weapons just before the law took effect, some because they wanted them, others seeking profit, hopeful that the ban would drive up the value of "grandfathered" guns. "Banned" assault weapons have always been readily available on the secondary market. Anyone who wants an assault rifle can buy one, and always could. The fact that you don't have to lay down covering fire to make your way from the parking lot to your office each morning is testament to the fact that the vast majority of guns in this country - including semi-automatic weapons and military-style weapons - are owned by responsible, law-abiding citizens. With or without a ban on the manufacture of assault weapons, these people have no desire to murder anyone.
The ban's major flaw is that it doesn't rationally differentiate banned weapons from legal ones. That's a strong argument in theory. Unfortunately, it's one that can be turned on its ear - that is, it may well serve as an argument to ban far more makes and models of guns. We'd hate to see that. The political climate in America today is more respectful of gun ownership than in decades past. But that can always change.
We'll bet the assault weapon ban will expire in September, no mayhem will immediately ensue, but the easing of restrictions will be short-lived. Sooner or later, Congress will reinstitute a ban. Clearly, the government may restrict to some degree the weaponry readily available to the public. On balance, that's a good thing. Who would like to see rocket-propelled grenades and stinger missiles available at the local pawn shop? The question is, where do we draw the line? As we've watched a supposedly conservative administration pare back other civil liberties in overreaction to Sept. 11, the thought occurs to us that it might not take much to draw the line right through your gun rack.
Then again, if people become hysterical enough about the current ban expiring Sept. 13, perhaps they'll be more than satisfied to have the line drawn at or near the current 19 assault weapons, thus preserving the status-quo. We could live with that.
You are correct. Still looking for the right rifle. Had one ID'd in Arkansas but it got away.
Yeah, they're nice. My friend in CA has one... We put up silouettes labeled, "Stainman," and aim at the nuts. Lots of fun.
HK-91 .308 - I've got two and they both run like a clock.
In so far as one may outfit a Mini-14 with a folding-stock, a pistol grip, a bayonet lug, a grenade launcher, or a flash-suppressor, then I believe that the law DID affect the Mini-14.
I believe that a Mini-14 built prior to the ban and having two or more of the "evil" features is a pre-ban gun and was not subject to restriction. Once the ban was passed, it became illegal to add two or more of such features to a Mini-14, unless the gun had been assembled with at least two of the evil features prior to the ban.
A-men to that, the HK-91 is a really serious butt kicker. Mine is named "Pookie".
With a Class III ticket, yes. Or if one knows an illegal machine gun dealer, yes. Not otherwise.
An assault rifle has a distinct definition, which is why the ban referenced assault weapons. An assault rifle is select-fire, that is, semi-auto, full-auto, and safe (and rifle-caliber, which lets out the Uzis and the MAC-10s). It's that "full-auto" provision that makes it a Class III firearm.
Uhhhhhh.....
"A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
It would seem that this authors "opinion" (typical yellow journalism propaganda) was formed without reading the constitution. Who would have guessed?
I've also got an M1A, a preban AKS, an SKS para-trooper and an Ithaca Model-37 8+1 shot M&P, BUT... my "if the time comes" rifle is the elder HK.
I look forward to the reduction in the costs of mags as the major change of the sun-setting of the AWB.
Neither. All you're doing is buying a bayonet lug. If anything, buy a Steyr AUG.
Also stock up on high cap mags for your pistols.
The article doesn't even mention the neutered pistol magazines. I want to get 15 round mags for my G20 and not have to pay $100 each.
I hate to be a pest about this, but open or closed bolt design has nothing to do with the cyclic rate, and very few firearms can fire from both the open and closed bolt. It's either one method or the other.
As a side note, open bolt firearms designs are prohibited and controlled by ATF Ruling 82-2.
Sadly, imported 'assault weapons' are still covered by the 1989 Bush I Ban. The AUG would have to be manufactured here domestically, or assembled according to the '10 Parts' rule to be exempted.
Anyone who wanted a post-ban AUG should have bought one of the 2500 Steyr USRs (AUG-A2) that came into the US in 1995 or so. They're still available at high prices. So too are pre-1989 AUGs that trade at even higher prices.
There is talk of the domestic US manufacture of the SIG-500 (PE-90) rifle. Canada manufactures them by license under the 'Blue Sky' label.
Oh, the import ban. I forgot. We have to make a note of that. Let's make that one next on the list after November. [Crosses fingers]
Good luck. It's an executive order.
I always thought the open/closed bolt thing was that in a closed bolt weapon after extended automatic firing the next unfired round sat in a very hot chamber and could go off by itself, whereas an open bolt would not have that defect. Correct?
That's correct.
HK-91 .308 - I've got two and they both run like a clock.
... If anything, buy a Steyr AUG."
Sadly, imported 'assault weapons' are still covered by the 1989 Bush I Ban. The AUG would have to be manufactured here domestically, or assembled according to the '10 Parts' rule to be exempted.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.