HR 2038: a bill to ban "assault weapons"

[jimsteuben]

H. R. 2038 was introduced into Congress on 8 May 2003 by Rep. McCarthy et al. The bill would redefine the term "semiautomatic assault weapon" to mean inter alia "any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a firearm into a semiautomatic assault weapon, and any combination of parts from which a semiautomatic assault weapon can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of a person."

"Any part." Since the bill also defines "semiautomatic assault weapon" to include any rifle with a pistol grip or a forward grip (or one other specified cosmetic feature), then does it not follow that a pistol grip and forward grip are by themselves "parts designed and intended for use in converting a firearm"?

Possession of a forward grip would be a crime? Did I read this right? For crying out loud, a forward grip on a WASR-10 is JUST A PIECE OF WOOD that any kid who's had highschool wood shop can make in an afternoon, and yet they want to rewrite the law to stick someone away for FIVE YEARS in the federal gulag for a piece for wood?

Look, I don't claim to have all the answers about what to do about the crime problem, the criminal misuse of firearms, the culture of urban nihilism in Detroit, DC, Chicago and those other crime-ridden cities, but this ain't it.

[kalian]

1. They want to disarm us....

and some on these forums would like to see that happen...
Then, we'll become unarmed SLAVES.

[slackmaster]

2. Isn't that the one that defines M1 Carbines as AWs?

And gives the AG the power to arbitrarily say anything he or she wants to is an AW?

Non-starter IMO, but I'm still going to fight it hard.

[FeebMaster]

3. Legislating the size and shape

of wood is nothing new. The NFA is full of that sort of thing. They've done all the owning parts designed and intended for use in conversions with machine guns for a good long while now.

You have to give the gun grabbers credit, this new and improved AWB would actually ban some guns.

[MrSandman]

4. Some??

Any semi, maybe.
Damn Bambi-killing machines, designed to slay whole herds of deer with indiscriminate fire.

[FeebMaster]

5. Well, a lot.

Certainly more than the first AWB.

[MrBenchley]

6. Too TOO funny...

Yeah, that's why the gun lobby is going all out to keep it bottled up inn committee, and why a bill like it killed the immunity bill...because it's just a piece of wood.

Who DO you think you're fooling?

[slackmaster]

7. Yes, just a piece of wood

The bill is unenforcable and too Draconian to have a chance of passage.

What goes around comes around BTW - Watch the pro-RKBA Senators start hanging the gun maker liability protection as an amendment to any gun control bill in the works.

[FatSlob]

8. He's not fooling anybody.

He states fact and opinion. People have different opinons. He stands for individual liberties.

[MrBenchley]

9. Well, at least you got THAT right

But as I said, it's too hilarious to hear the cause represented by Wayne's e-mail zombies described as "individual liberties." Mao's Red Guard wasn't as lockstep as the pro-gun Republicans are.

[idadem]

10. Ban ALL semi-autos...

...because no individual should have the liberty to own one. Well, except for the militia which is the National Guard which in turn is an extension of the army and the airforce.

[jimsteuben]

11. I dunno, we might need 'em...

Especially if the Repugs start making a habit out of stealing elections.

BTW, the militia and the National Guard are legally two completely different entities with different missions.

"The Militia of the United States consist of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age ... " Title 10, Section 311 of the United States Code.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/

[JOE T]

12. It is too strict

This bill will never pass, it is too strict. Bush said he would sign a renewal not this crap.
Joe

[FeebMaster]

13. I doubt anyone expected

Reagan to ban civilian production of machine guns. You never know.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

14. The Hughes ammendment

The William Hughes ammendment to the McClure-Volkmer Act of 1986 happened in the last 30 seconds of discussion by a voice vote. Chances are Reagan never knew the ammendment was there. He still should have read the stupid thing before he signed it.

[FeebMaster]

15. Ignorance is no excuse.

Assuming he was ignorant of the amendment. It's not like he signed the thing 5 minutes after congress passed it.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

16. I agree

Could have been avoided had he read the stupid thing.