Rep. Space introduces bipartisan gun legislation

Posted by Blue in Athens on Dec 20th, 2007
2007
Dec 20

Today Zack Space (D-18th) along with Republican Steve King of Iowa unveiled the Comprehensive Firearms Reform Act of 2007. The press release says: “We can and will make it more difficult for criminals to get their hands on guns while making sure we protect the civil rights of Americans.” Well, you be the judge:

This legislation would:

* Create a system to provide more flexibility in punishing those who violate gun sales laws.
* Establish a solid legal requirement for determining the willful violation of the law.
* Creates specific sentencing guidelines for dangerous felons convicted of a gun offense.
* Set limitations on the availability of electronic gun owner information to protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens.
* Ban the federal background check tax.
* Allow security companies and ammunition manufacturers to purchase machineguns for product testing and international security personnel training.
* Ease the restriction on the importation of replacement parts for military-style semiautomatic rifles.

So, if more parts are imported for semiautomatics, like AK-47s, won’t that make more working assault rifles available? I’m not sure how I feel about this one yet, I guess Zack will do what he’s gotta do.

6 Responses

  1. David Says:
    December 20th, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    I’m also a little worried about this one. Hunting rifles are one thing, but when it comes to assault rifles I think a serious line is crossed.

  2. Randy Says:
    December 23rd, 2007 at 7:56 am

    I own neither hunting rifles or assault rifles. I do own a pistol, passed down. It’s in a closet, hidden away (I don’t worry about the kids, but if my wife finds it, she might use it).

    The question is, how do you define assault rifle vs hunting rifle? I’m sure there are lots of cross-overs….

  3. David Says:
    December 23rd, 2007 at 11:15 am

    Typically I’ve always tended to use whether or not a gun was automatic as the litmus test.

  4. Randy Says:
    December 23rd, 2007 at 8:13 pm

    But automatic can be made non-automatic very easily and vice versa. The difference in an AK-47 and a non-automatic version is small.

    I re-read the list of items the legislation would cover. I don’t see anything wrong with any of these. In fact, I think the gun sellers should be the focal point of the legislation. I am a little concerned about determining the “willful violation of the law.” Seems like this is trying to read minds. Not unlike “hate crimes”, we are punishing people for thoughts.

    Those who violate the law should be punished regardless.

  5. Robb Allen Says:
    December 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 pm

    Hunting rifles are one thing, but when it comes to assault rifles I think a serious line is crossed.

    This is a very unfortunate misunderstanding.

    Check these pictures out. The bowling pin that isn’t much more than splinters – Hunting rifle. The pin with the tiny hole? “Assault Rifle” by the media’s definition.

    Assault rifles, by definition, fire medium powered cartridges and have selective fire – meaning full auto, burst, or semi-automatic. No matter what you saw on A-Team, you cannot switch a semi automatic to a fully automatic without major gunsmithing. The actions simply are not built to fire repeatedly with each trigger pull.

    The 5.56mm (.223) for the M-16 (AR-15) platform was designed to wound, not kill. A wounded soldier costs money to treat, personnel to evacuate and tend to, etc. The smaller cartridge meant you could carry more since the platform was smaller.

    Automatic firearms are highly regulated in the US. To own one requires a $200 stamp, background checks beyond that of regular purchases, fingerprinting, sign offs by the local sheriff, and due to the ban on manufacturing (hence the rarity of), most any fully automatic gun runs in the $10,000+ range. Not the kind of thing criminals use. Any serious shooter knows that autos are a great way to turn lots of cash into noise. Unless mounted, automatic fire is very difficult to control.

    I urge you to study this issue. I see you are against the “mind reading” concept, and all gun laws (which criminals don’t follow) attempt to do just that. It indicates us gunnies are criminal until we’ve passed very, very unconstitutional “litmus tests”.

    If you have any questions or would like to discuss it further, I’d be happy to.

    Thanks, and have a Merry Christmas.

  6. Hunting Rifle Says:
    July 10th, 2008 at 5:37 pm

    Allow security companies and ammunition manufacturers to purchase machineguns for product testing and international security personnel training.

    Great, me and100 of my friends will each start our own side security business so we can buy machineguns.