The Assault Weapons Ban Expires On Sept. 13

[Zorra]

I'm thinking of buying one or two.

IMO, every Democratic household should have at least one. I think that an assault weapon is an excellent personal protection device.

Can you hunt with them too? If Bu$h is reselected, unemployment will be so high that we may need to mow down a few herds of elk so we can feed our families and neighbors.

What do you think?;-)

[slackmaster]

1. It won't make a whole lot of difference

Because right now you can buy firearms called "post-bans" that are exactly the same as assault weapons but lack features like bayonet lugs, folding stocks, and threaded muzzles. They function exactly the same as assault weapons and accept the same detachable magazines.

You can buy a used AW right now, but the prices are artificially high because they haven't been manufactured since 1994. Or, you could buy a post-ban right now and reconfigure it with the presently banned features after September 13. Or just keep it in a post-ban configuration. After 9/13 you'll have more choices. That's the real impact of the sunsetting of the ban.

Of course anything that is an assault weapon now won't be one after September 13, because the law that defines what is an assault weapon will cease to exist. So anything you buy or build after September 14 will NOT be an assault weapon. (We're talking only about federal law here. Some states like California where I live have their own, different definitions of assault weapon.)

One other detail - Magazines that hold over 10 rounds will drop in price after September 13. Some companies are already accepting advance orders for them.

Can you hunt with them too?

Some kinds like AR-15s are accurate enough for hunting, but the ammunition is less powerful than calibers normally used for deer or elk. Here in California I believe it would not be legal to hunt deer with one because the law requires something more powerful. Some states allow deer hunting with the .223 round. You might have to buy 5-round magazines to make it legal. Check your state and local laws.

(Edited to correct dates and grammar and spelling and stuff like that)

[Junkdrawer]

2. Manufacturers started production lines KNOWING the ban..

wouldn't be extended. Gee, it's good to "operate right out of the White House". :(

[slackmaster]

3. Legally they can't start actual production until 9/13

They could tool up but if they built any magazines over 10 rounds or assembled any complete AWs now it would be a serious crime.

If you know of anyone who actually jumped the gun you should turn them in to the BATFE.