Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 08/06/2005 7:28:32 PM PDT by kerryusama04
You may have heard a lot of praise for S. 397, which last week passed the U.S. Senate. This bill is supposedly intended to protect firearms manufacturers against nuisance lawsuits.
There's been minor grumbling about the "safety lock" provisions in the proposed legislation, but otherwise S. 397 has had overwhelming support.
Just about the time we were wondering why even some usually gun-unfriendly senators like Herb Kohl (D-WI) were in favor of this bill, an alert Congresswatcher contacted us with a warning.
"The only thing I see that's good about the bill," this sharp-eyed observer wrote, "is that it hasn't become law."
After taking a closer look, we agree.
As our correspondent pointed out, the real problem lies in Sec. 6 "Armor Piercing Ammunition."
THIS SECTION COULD ALLOW ALL CENTERFIRE RIFLE AMMO TO BE BANNED
Here's how.
Part One of Sec. 6 makes it illegal to make, import, sell or deliver any "armor-piercing" ammunition EXCEPT:
1) For the use of state and federal government departments or agencies.
2) For export
3) For Attorney General-approved testing.
Part Two "enhances" criminal sentences for anyone who possesses "armor-piercing" ammunition during the commission of a crime.
Part Three is where the trap is really sprung. Because this part instructs the U.S. Attorney General to "conduct a study to determine whether a uniform standard for the testing of projectiles against Body Armor is feasible."
NOTE WELL: The tests to determine whether or not ammo is "armor piercing" are NOT to be conducted against armor plate, such as that used on military combat vehicles. The tests are to be conducted against body armor. And as anyone knowledgeable about firearms knows, VIRTUALLY ALL RIFLE AMMO WILL PENETRATE BODY ARMOR. So will some pistol ammo.
We asked firearms maker Len Savage if the warning we received was well-taken or whether this was simply a misinterpretation of the proposed law. Here's Len's reply:
"Yes. This gives the A.G. the power to say what is and is not "armor piercing." There is no language for what type of test is to be conducted (other than ballistic vests). If the test were on 1 inch "rolled homogeneous armor plate" then there would be no problem. If the test is a level I "vest" material, then EVERYTHING including .22 longs, are going to be illegal ammo.
"The bill would effectively give the power to decide to ONE person. NO vote, NO appeal, NO rights. (Just like the current mess with [the sloppy, no-standards testing practices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms].)
"I figured it was a matter of time before they got around to figuring out: Control the ammo and you control the guns. Of course there would be born a "black market" for ammo, very close to the black market for marijuana, in size, scope, and risks. Next will be the sentencing recommendations for possession, and distributing (dealing). Components will be viewed as constructive intent of illegal manufacturing of "terrorist material."
"This is a dangerous path for America. I am forced to ask myself: Why the continued attack and obvious methodical disarming of American Citizens? There is only one answer: control and power."
Just as "Saturday-Night specials," "military-style assault weapons," "cop-killer bullets," and "sporting purposes" have all been used as deceptive, emotionally loaded key words to justify regulations and outright bans, it now appears that the designation "armor-piercing ammunition" is likely to be mis-applied in an attempt to deprive Americans of their rights.
We should all be asking some serious questions about the real impact S. 397 will have on our freedoms if it becomes law. One important question is: Why are our "leaders" so desperate that they would attempt to slip such a potentially draconian provision into a supposedly pro-gun bill?
Would you mind distributing this lovely piece of info?
Posted already, do a search. The NRA says it isn't a trojan horse, FWIW.
I usually get a ping on this stuff. Oh well.
Am I no longer worthy of a ping, brother? :) I usually know about this the moment it happens. Wonder what happened here?
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When GWB leaves the border open despite the WOT, the ruling class of our country has decided we will become the global village and give up our sovereignty. Standard laws will mean certain aspects of the US constitution must be sacrificed in order to fit in. Global economy means some will gain and some will lose in our society. We already move goods and services over the border, but we have not moved labor or people over the border due to one sticky concept called national borders (exasperated by WOT). The elite intend to jam globalism down our throats, and in order to insure the ones who will be displaced by this new global society, gunownership must be limited and controlled. My observation is the middle class will end up poorer or wealthier. Net effect is a new society where the gap between winners and losers will be great, with no in betweens. Such a society highly polarized economicly will face tensions and conflicts. If I was in power I would try to make sure the economic losers in the new global economy will not have the means to rebel after their government no longer represents them when it comes to issues of global trade and sovereignty.
14 rats along with 50 Republicans voted to pass S397. 4 of the rats are up for re-election in 2006 and 5 others have moderate pro gun records. Why Conrad, Dorgan, Lincoln Pryor and Rockefeller voted for it is anyones guess.
In order to believe this conspiracy swill one would have to conclude Republican 2nd amendment patriots like Bunning, Crapo, Graham, Talent, Brownback, and Coburn are incompetent at best and evil traitors at worst. Additionally one would have to believe scumbags like Bayh, Boxer, Clinton, Dodd, Leahy, Kerry, Kennedy,Obama, Mikulski, Schumer, and Wyden all missed their chance to cast a vote for the destruction of citizen self defense.
Tomorrow Mike Savage will tell us all that pro gun freshmen Thune, Martinez, Isakson, Vitter, Coburn, and DeMint sold out their constituents and morality for a seat at the table of the vermin RINOs and rats who wish to destroy this country.
"The only thing I see that's good about the bill," this sharp-eyed observer wrote, "is that it hasn't become law."
So in a sense Chafee, DeWine and 29 rats were actually protecting our RKBA when they voted against this bill...is that right??? What a twisted world the folks at JPFO live in.
The USA is dying of cancer. My personal take is that the UN (Global Community - why can't I say tht without using Kofi Anan's accent?) wants our guns so they can steal our money and rape our children, but your take is much more eloquent.
There is an ongoing project funded by US corporations and federal assistance called the Virtual Border, where the US government want the ability to track people coming in and out of the US like UPS packages. The system will use fingerprints, optic scan and other parametrics. Once the system is set up, the issues of criminals and terrorists are eliminated because a data base will be set up in Canada and Mexico (and maybe other countries), thus allowing corporations to import workers anytime with accurate instant background checks. That is why corporations are behind the scenes trying to undermind resistance to illegal immigrants because they see it as an anti-immigrant (cheap labor) movement. If immigration control groups are successful, it would be harder for our government (corporations) to implement the Virtual Border once it is fully developed thus depriving our businesses the ability to optimize productivity and minimize labor cost by imported workers. Big money and popular desire are on a collision course, and them damn politicians will be caught in the middle. If politicians are smart, they need to remember one thing, the people have something that corporate America does not, numbers in the polling booth.
Ahhh, the almighty dollar trumps the Constitution. Follow the money, as they always say.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
If the statute of which this bill is going to become part of, doesn't say what the term "armor piercing" means, then this is trouble.
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